Central Government Urges Southern States to Expedite Jan Vishwas Reforms

The central government has urged the southern states of India to expedite the implementation of reforms introduced under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, via the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026. This appeal was made during a review meeting with officials from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.

According to the consumer affairs ministry, the reforms are focused on simplifying compliance procedures to aid bona fide businesses while keeping stringent measures in place to counteract fraud and protect consumer interests. The goal is to create a regulatory environment that is both transparent and supportive of industrial growth.

Key aspects of the reforms include transitioning from licensing to registration in a manner that fosters trust and facilitates regulation. Emphasis was placed on granting registrations automatically once all necessary documents are submitted, eliminating unnecessary delays and inspections.

Additionally, the introduction of an 'Improvement Notice' system under the reforms aims to handle first-time procedural breaches by issuing a notice prior to any punitive actions, thus encouraging voluntary compliance and minimizing litigation.

The ministry also emphasized the need for states to update their Government-Approved Test Centres (GATC) to align with the new legal metrology framework. Training programs for legal metrology officers will be conducted to ensure effective implementation and bolster technical expertise.

(With inputs from agencies.)