Delhi govt introduces lifetime licensing under Legal Metrology reform: Sirsa

The Delhi government has decided to replace periodic licence renewals for manufacturers, dealers, and repairers under the Weights and Measures rules with a self-declaration-based lifetime approval system, Industries and Food Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday, 5 May. The reform, part of Delhi's Deregulation Exercise 2.0, amends the Delhi Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011, and is aimed at reducing compliance burden and easing the cost of doing business in the capital.

Key Changes in the New Framework

Under the revised rules, a licence issued on payment of the prescribed fee will remain valid indefinitely — unless suspended or cancelled by the Controller or an authorised officer. This effectively creates a lifetime licensing system, eliminating the need for repeated renewals that businesses previously had to navigate. Additionally, the requirement of a physical site inspection before the grant of a licence has been removed; approvals will now be issued on a self-declaration basis.

The reforms also include consequential amendments to schedules, forms, and registers under the Rules to align the entire legal metrology licensing framework with the simplified structure, according to officials.

Who Is Affected

The Weights and Measures Department currently supports over 600 active businesses across New Delhi, comprising 154 licensed manufacturers, 421 dealers, and 24 repairers. All three categories stand to benefit from the removal of periodic renewal requirements and pre-inspection mandates, which officials say have historically caused delays and procedural bottlenecks.

The move is expected to lower recurring compliance costs, save time for enterprises, and bring greater certainty to business operations, a government official said.