In a push to improve the business climate, the Delhi government has decided to discontinue periodic licence renewal for manufacturers, dealers and repairers under the Weights and Measures rules and replace it with a self-declaration-based approval system, an official said on Tuesday.
The reform is part of Delhi’s Deregulation Exercise 2.0, which seeks to reduce compliance burden and rationalise regulatory frameworks across departments, said Industries and Food Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa. “The objective is to reduce friction, improve trust, and build a regulatory system that supports growth while retaining accountability,” Sirsa said.
The reform amends the Delhi Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011, to remove the requirement of physical site inspection before the grant of a licence and allow licences to be issued on a self-declaration basis, said Sirsa. The move is expected to substantially improve the ease of starting and operating businesses in the sector by reducing delays, procedural bottlenecks and unnecessary interface points, he said.
“Delhi is moving towards a governance model that is reform-driven, trust-based and responsive to the needs of industry. Honest businesses should not be weighed down by repetitive and avoidable procedures,” Sirsa said. Currently, the Weights and Measures Department supports a robust ecosystem of 600-plus active businesses across the national capital, comprising 154 licensed manufacturers, 421 dealers, and 24 repairers.
One of the most far-reaching changes in the approved framework is the discontinuation of periodic licence renewal for manufacturers, dealers and repairers. Under the new system, a licence issued on payment of the prescribed fee will remain valid unless it is suspended or cancelled by the Controller or an authorised officer, said an official.
This effectively creates a lifetime approval system and is expected to lower recurring compliance costs, save time for enterprises and bring greater certainty to business operations, he said. The reforms also include consequential amendments to schedules, forms and registers under the Rules so that the entire legal metrology licensing framework aligns with the new simplified structure.