AoB amendment number 380 for amending the business of Department of Consumer Affairs

## Report on the Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Eightieth Amendment Rules, 2025 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Eightieth Amendment Rules, 2025, as published in the Gazette of India. This amendment modifies the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, specifically within the SECOND SCHEDULE under the heading "MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION UPBHOKTA MAMLE, KHADYA AUR SARVAJANIK VITARAN MANTRALAYA, under the subheading A. DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS UPBHOKTA MAMLE VIBHAG." The key changes involve updating references to various Acts related to consumer affairs, trade, and standards, as well as omitting a regulation regarding inter-state trade. These amendments appear to modernize the regulatory framework and reflect changes in legislation. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a detailed overview of the Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Eightieth Amendment Rules, 2025, based solely on the provided official gazette notification. It outlines the changes introduced by this amendment and infers their potential impact on relevant stakeholders. **3. Policy Overview:** This amendment modifies the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules, 1961. The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to update and streamline the allocation of business rules pertaining to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution by aligning them with current legislation and removing obsolete regulations. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment appears to be driven by the need to update references to consumer protection and trade-related laws within the Government of India Allocation of Business Rules. The original policy likely contained outdated references, necessitating an amendment to reflect the current legal landscape. The omission of the Spirituous Preparation InterState Trade and Commerce Control Act, 1955 suggests a shift in policy regarding the control of such trade, potentially due to its obsolescence or redundancy. Updating references to Acts such as the Bureau of Indian Standards Act (from 1986 to 2016) and the Consumer Protection Act (from 1986 to 2019) suggests a desire to reflect more recent legislative changes and advancements in these domains. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** The amendment introduces the following specific changes: * **i. Omission of the Spirituous Preparation InterState Trade and Commerce Control Act, 1955:** The "entry 2 relating to InterState Trade: The Spirituous Preparation InterState Trade and Commerce Control Act, 1955 39 of 1955 shall be omitted." This removes the specific mention and presumed regulatory oversight of this Act from the allocation of business rules. The effect of this change is a potential deregulation or a transfer of responsibility for this area to another department or framework. * **ii. Correction of Spelling Error:** "in entry 7, for the word Meterology, the word Metrology shall be substituted." This corrects a misspelling, ensuring accuracy in the document. * **iii. Substitution of The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 with The Legal Metrology Act, 2009:** "in entry 9, for the words, figures and brackets The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 60 of 1976, the words, figures and brackets The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 1 of 2010 shall be substituted." This reflects the replacement of the older Act with a newer one, updating the regulatory framework for weights and measures. * **iv. Substitution of The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 with The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016:** "in entry 10, for the words, figures and brackets The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 63 of 1986, the words, figures and brackets The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 11 of 2016 shall be substituted." This reflects the enactment of a new Bureau of Indian Standards Act, likely with updated provisions and powers. * **v. Substitution of The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 with The Consumer Protection Act, 2019:** "in entry 15, for the words, figures and brackets The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 68 of 1986, the words, figures and brackets The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 35 of 2019 shall be substituted." This reflects the replacement of the older Consumer Protection Act with a more recent version, likely including updated consumer rights and enforcement mechanisms. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the primary target audience and stakeholders affected by these changes are: * The **Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution**, specifically the **Department of Consumer Affairs**. * Businesses involved in **interstate trade of spirituous preparations** (due to the removal of the 1955 Act reference). * Organizations and individuals subject to regulations under the **Legal Metrology Act, 2009**, the **Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016**, and the **Consumer Protection Act, 2019**. * Industries and consumers whose operations are governed by standards and measurements or whose rights are protected by consumer protection laws. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency:** The Cabinet Secretariat, as indicated by the notification. The Department of Consumer Affairs within the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is directly affected. * **Timelines:** The amendment came into force "at once" on May 5, 2025. * The immediate implementation aspect involves updating internal documents and procedures within the Department of Consumer Affairs to reflect the amended rules and the replaced Acts. This likely requires training and communication to ensure compliance with the new legislative framework. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcomes of these changes are likely to: * **Modernize the regulatory framework:** By replacing outdated references with current legislation, the amendment ensures that the allocation of business rules aligns with the present legal landscape. * **Improve efficiency:** Updating the rules with current acts enables the Department of Consumer Affairs to operate under the latest legal mandates. * **Enhance consumer protection:** Referencing the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 strengthens the framework for consumer rights and redressal mechanisms. * **Promote standardization and quality:** Referencing the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 helps to ensure products and services meet prescribed standards. * **Potentially deregulate spirituous preparations inter-state trade:** The removal of the 1955 Act suggests a possible deregulation, a shift in regulatory authority, or that the act is no longer relevant. **9. Conclusion:** The Government of India Allocation of Business Three Hundred and Eightieth Amendment Rules, 2025, represents a crucial update to the regulatory framework governing the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. By modernizing references to key Acts, the amendment ensures that the allocation of business rules remains current and effective. The changes are significant for the Department of Consumer Affairs, businesses operating under these regulations, and consumers whose rights are protected by these laws. Further clarification on the specific impact of the omission of the 1955 Act related to spirituous preparations inter-state trade would be beneficial.

Key Entities Referenced