Parliament Question: Establishment of a Bharat Standards Authority and Reforms in Legal Metrology

Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6071 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 ESTABLISHMENT OF A BHARAT STANDARDS AUTHORITY AND REFORMS IN LEGAL METROLOGY 6071 SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken concrete steps to establish a Bharat Standards Authority through new legislation to create a comprehensive, unified and future-ready national standardisation framework and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has studied international best practices in standardisation and quality infrastructure to further strengthen country’s quality ecosystem and global competitiveness; and (c) whether representations seeking amendments to the Legal Metrology framework to improve efficiency, ensure national uniformity and enhance country’s credibility in international trade have been examined and if so, the action taken thereon? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA) (a) : India's efforts to foster a standardization framework began in 1947 with the establishment of the Indian Standards Institute (ISI) on January 6, 1947. Thereafter, in 1986, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was created through an Act of Parliament known as The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. BIS was established for the harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, marking and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto and took over all the functions of ISI. The most recent legislative milestone was the enactment of the BIS Act of 2016, which came into force on October 12, 2017, establishing BIS as the National Standards Body of India with expanded powers and responsibilities. BIS is effectively discharging all roles and functions as the National Standards Body of India. The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder contain adequate provisions to create a comprehensive standardization framework in the country. Whenever a situation so demands, amendments have been made to BIS Rules, 2018 and BIS (Certification) Regulations 2018 to strengthen the standardization and certification framework in the country. (b) : BIS has systematically assessed international practices to enhance India’s quality standards through multiple mechanisms including process of harmonization with existing international standards capacity building programmes and international cooperation frameworks which facilitates exchange of global best practices.Bureau of Indian Standards, as the National Standards Body of India, represents India in two major international standards development organisations, namely ISO (International organisation for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Similarly, the National Standards Bodies of other countries also are members of ISO and IEC. BIS regularly holds positions in most of the Governing bodies of ISO and IEC. BIS experts through interaction with international experts in these fora regularly update themselves of international best practices and appropriately implement them in India. Further, BIS technical experts participate in the technical committees of ISO and IEC and contribute to the development of international standards. Whenever, Indian standards are developed, and ISO/IEC standards exist on the same subject, a conscious decision is taken to adopt/adapt these international standards. At present 93.7% of Indian Standards that have corresponding ISO/IEC standards have been harmonized with their international counterparts. (c) : Representations suggesting amendments to improve the efficiency and cohesiveness of the Legal Metrology system have been duly examined. Accordingly, the legal framework under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and its associated rules has been updated to reflect global best practices. Steps taken include strengthening enforcement mechanisms, removing redundancies and simplifying compliance procedures. Digital solutions have also been implemented, such as providing all services online, QR code labeling for specific declarations on electronic products, and integration with platforms like the National Single Window System (NSWS), thereby improving ease of doing business and enhancing consumer confidence. In addition, significant progress has been made in strengthening India’s role in the international metrology landscape. India has been authorized to issue OIML approval certificates for weighing and measuring instruments, placing it among a select group of countries recognized for metrological competence. Infrastructure upgrades, stakeholder consultations, and the adoption of unified standards across states have contributed to building a cohesive and internationally credible Legal Metrology system that supports trust in Indian products in global markets. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 have been further amended to strengthen consumer protection, transparency and regulatory alignment. The labelling requirements for medical devices have been harmonised with the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 to ensure consistency in declarations and facilitate ease of compliance. Further, the provision for declaration of Unit Sale Price on pre-packaged commodities has been introduced to enable consumers to make informed price comparisons. Additionally, a new sub-rule (10A) has been inserted in Rule 6 mandating e-commerce entities selling imported products to display the country of origin through searchable and sortable filters on their platforms, thereby enhancing transparency in online marketplaces. *****