The Centre on Wednesday commemorated World Metrology Day, marking the 151st anniversary of the historic Metre Convention signed in Paris on May 20, 1875. This year’s theme, “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making,” highlighted the role of accurate measurement systems in governance, trade, healthcare, and consumer protection.
Addressing the event virtually, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized that reliable measurements form the foundation of effective policymaking, transparent governance, scientific accuracy, industrial growth, and fair trade practices.
The minister announced several reforms aimed at strengthening India’s legal metrology infrastructure and improving ease of doing business. He said the Department of Consumer Affairs has issued 40 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates to private entities to expand the country’s verification and testing capacity.
Highlighting reforms under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, Joshi said minor offences under the Legal Metrology Act have been decriminalised, while improvement notices have been introduced for certain violations. He added that the government has shifted from a licensing system to a registration-based framework to simplify compliance procedures.
The minister also launched the e-Maap portal, a unified digital platform for legal metrology services. The portal will facilitate registration, verification of weights and measures, model approvals, and enforcement-related services at both central and state levels.
Joshi further noted that India has become the 13th country authorised to issue OIML pattern approval certificates, strengthening India’s position in global standardisation and supporting exports of weighing and measuring instruments.
He said software testing facilities for weighing and measuring instruments have also been established at Regional Reference Standard Laboratories in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing to boost domestic manufacturing and global competitiveness under the “Make in India” initiative.
Referring to the “One Nation, One Time” initiative, the minister said the project is being implemented jointly by the National Physical Laboratory and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to disseminate Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country with high precision through Regional Reference Standard Laboratories.
Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs B. L. Verma said accurate measurements directly affect citizens’ daily lives in areas such as food distribution, fuel dispensing, medicines, electricity, and packaged commodities. He also highlighted the introduction of standards for non-invasive blood pressure monitors earlier this year to improve accuracy and public safety in medical devices.
Minister of State Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya said reliable and transparent measurement systems are essential for evidence-based policymaking and consumer confidence.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare highlighted the government’s push for technology-driven compliance and informed that new rules have been notified for devices such as breath analysers, gas meters, moisture meters, and radar-based vehicle speed measurement equipment.
The event also featured technical sessions with national and international experts discussing global developments in metrology and standardisation.
Former National Physical Laboratory Director Amitava Sen Gupta spoke on global standard time management and India’s capability to maintain Indian Standard Time through advanced atomic clock systems.
Dr. Sunil K. Singh, Scientist, BARC, highlighted India’s growing capabilities in ionizing radiation metrology and healthcare safety systems through the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Dr. Bobjoseph Mathew, CIML President, discussed Switzerland’s legal metrology framework, while Anthony Donnellan praised India’s increasing leadership in international standard-setting and welcomed India’s hosting of the 61st Meeting of the International Committee of Legal Metrology in New Delhi in October 2026.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said the celebrations concluded with a renewed commitment to building a modern, efficient, and globally trusted measurement ecosystem in India.
