 the standards of weights and measures bal, 1956(as introduced in lok sabha)  the standards of weights andmeasures bill, 1956 (as lntroljuced 1ft lox smia) a bnl'to es'tablis'hs'tnm!anfsof weiglftt ~  61 __ oil - metric system be it enacted by parliament in tbe5eventh y~a:r 'df the republic of india as follows:-1 (1) thi5 ·act may be oalled tae staudargi 'fif weigllts and short_de measures act, 1956 = 5 ~2) it exteads to the whole of india except the state of jammu menl, a1lci kashmir is) itt sm1l -(l(i)1m m~ ierce wi wed liaia, not ~ later than  yems from 'bhe pill8~ gf 4dae act,  jjbe cietltl'&l goverm:aert may, by notiftcatioa iatbe ofidial qat~ a~t; 8i1d di1ferent 10 dates may be appointed for different provisions of thi ad ~ for different areas or for different classes of undertakings or for different classes of gaeds z, in this act, unless the context gthet'wise requires,-de6nitioa  (a) "first general conference of weights and measures" is means the omlfe'1'efjee oeweraie ,fits "oidia et muures hekl at paris in 1889; (b) "international bureau of weights and measures" means the bureau internatlonate des poids et m1!ia!"ei i8t sewes in france; 20 (c) "kilogram" uaeans the mass of the platinum-iridium cylinder deposited at the interr&uonal bureau of weights and isss ls measures and declared iilternational proto-type of the kilogramme by the first general conference of weights and measures; (d) "meter" means the distance, at zero degree centigrade and under normal atmospheric pressure, between the axes of 5 the two median lines traced on the platinum-iridium bar deposited at the international bureau of weights and measures and declared international proto-type of the metre by the first general conference of weights and measures; (e) "normal atmospheric pressure" means the pressure 10 exercised by 101325 newtons per square meter, a newton being the force which imparts to a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one meter per second per second primary lldit 3 (1) the primary unit of length shall be a meter at length (2) for the purpose of deriving the value of the meter, the is central government shall cause to be prepared a national pj:'ototype of the meter and shall cause the same to be certified in tenna of the international pj:'oto-type of the metre and shall deposit the i' iiloe in such custody and at such place as the central government may think fit 20 primary unit 4 (1) the primary unit of mass shall be a kilogram efmas and it&dclatdunit of weight (2) for· the purpose of deriving the value of kilogram, the central government shall cause to be prepared a national prototype of the kilogram and shall cause the same to be certified in terms of the international proto-type of kilogramme and shall deposit the 25 same in such custody and at such plalce as the central government may think fit (3) notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the primary unit of mass for precious stones shall be a carat which is equal to one-five-thousandth of one kilogram 30 , (4) the standard unit of weight at any place shall be the weight of the primary unit of mass at that place udltottime 5, (1) the primary unit of time shall be a second (2) a second means 1/31,556,925'975 of the length of the tropical year for 1900: 0, the year commencing at 1200 hours universal time 3' ~n the 1st day of january, 1900 6 (1) the unit of electric current shall be an ampere unit of electric current (2) an ampere means that constant current which, flowing in two parallel straight conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross section and placed at a distance of one meter from s each other in vacuum, produces a force of 2 x 10·' newtons per meter length between the conductors 7 the scale of temperature shall be the centigrade scale where scale of the temperature, under normal atmospheric pressure, is taken to be temperature zero degree at the melting point of ice and one hundred degrees at 10 the boiling point of water 8 (1) the unit of luminous intensity shall be the candela unit of lumjnoui inteo8iq (2) a candela means one-sixtieth part of luminous intensity normally emitted by one centimeter square of integral radiator (black body) at the temperature of solidification of platinum 9 the primary unit of area shall be the square meter primary udit of area 10 the primary unit of volume shall be the cubic meter prlmary unit of volume 11 the unit of capacity shall be a litre which is the volume unit of occupied by the mass of one kilogram of pure air-free water at the capacity temperature of its maximum density and under normal atmospheric " 20 pressure 12 the central government may by notification in the official secondary gazette, declare the magnitude and denominations of such units of :its ofma  mass and measurest as it thinks fit, to be the secondary units of mass measures and measures under this act: 2s provided that every such secondary unit shall be an integral power of ten (positive or negative) of anyone of such pril;nary units 13 (1) the units of mass and measures referred to in sections 3 standards of and 4 and sections 9 to 11, both inclusive, and the secondary units mall add /" of mass and measures declared under section 12 shall be the measures 30 standards of mass and measures (2) no unit of mass or measure other than the units of mass and measures referred to in sub-section (1) shall be used as a standard of mass or measure c~juinil:ildr:1: 14 (1) notwithstanding 1ilat this act has come into force in ~f~!i~dd respect of any area or class of goods or undertakings, the central mea~urcs gocet'mnencl mey;, ~ notift~ m 1m 0iidal gde~ permit the ~~~~~odal eo:rr1iinunca- of un u8e, altap such cglilllwdoemert, in respeet of that period area- or elass of" goods o~ unde~a&;rlgs; oc such weighais and meuure~ s in- addiiior' to 1ihe- stanciardl 0f mass and measu1!86 and fg'r such period, not exceeding three yaaws, as ida, be· spectibtd~ in· the notification (2) nothing in subsec:tfvit fjt)· shalt be _med to empower the (1!emall ~oyemment 110 a&ae any' s1lvh, !la_cation- in jlespect of any i v weight or measure which was not in use immediately bef~re the commencement of this act setll,,;011tan • danll~f mass and measures 15 (1:)  ceabai; sop  a  1118 to be· prepared as many sets as it may deem necessary of such standards of mass and  runs ~ t ia  tioil ja, u ijulki_ oj: sub-multiples is thvrea& il!t tm "-en_i qe  t  uiaswr ~ieat am shall 0iiiiie  hi  miij  -re at  let  he aathanticated as having been ascertained from the primary units of mass or measure, as tile cue  may be (2) the: cqntaal govtr'luubt lihall· sliildl15 to each; of the state 20 governments as many such sets as it may deem fit conveniim te: (f)' the value expressed' in- t'enn&- of' any weight set forth in of ~xistins sub-section ('1") of' section 3 of tfte standards of' weight act 1939 9 of 193'· wejpt8 and -  ' - mealures or m· t~s of any measure expressed in ihchw, :feet, yards or miles into ta~darj·or in gallons may be converted into the value expressed in terms zis =~:re of a standard mass or measure at the rates specified in the first schedule (2)- the central' gbvernment may, by not1flcat1tm in the official gazette, specify the rates at which the vafue expressed in terms of brlf weight or- m8uure· othgl" than those-· retarred to in· sub-seotion 30 (11)' may, be ~ried, int9, the, vaj,ue expressed in termsof· a standard mass or measure (3)' all references in any enactment or in any notification, rule or order under any enactment or in ~ cantract" deed or other instruments to a value expressed in terms of any weight or measure 3's other than those of a standard mass or measure shall be construed as references to that value expressed in terms of a, standard mass or measure, as the case ma~ be cpnverted tht\l'eto at the rates specified in the first schedule or in the noti1lcation iuued under sub-section (2), as the case may be (4) where in any transaction, the value expressed in terms of any weight or measure is required to be converted into that value expressed in terms of a standard mass or measure under this section the calculation, for the purposes of such transaction shall be made s in such manner as may be prescribed by rules 17 (1) the central government may, by notification in official gazette, make rules to carry out the purpose of this act the power to make rules (2) in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the follow-10 ing matters namely:-(a) the preparation of the standards of mass and measures under section 15: (b) the custody of the set of standards of mass and measures which are to be maintained by the central govern-j 5 ment and the periodical verification and adjustment thereof; (c) the periodical verification and adjustment of sets of standards of mass and measures supplied to the state governments: (d) the limits of error which may be tolerated in the 20 standards of mass and measures when they are manufactured for being used or are being used in transactions generally, or in any class of transactions in particular: (e) the manner in which the value expressed in terms of any weight or measure other than in terms of a standard· of 2s mass and measure may be converted thereto: and <f) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed (3) all rules made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after they are made, before both houses of parliament 2 of 1889 18 (1) the measures of length act, 1889, and the standards of repeai 9 of '939· 30 weight act, 1939, are hereby repealed (2) the enactments specified in the second schedule shall, to the extent to which they contain any provision which corresponds to any provision of this act, stand repealed (3) if, immediately before the commencement of this act or any 35 provision thereof in respect of any area or class of goods or under· takings, there is in force in respect of that area or class of goods or undertakings any law which corresponds to this act or to any provision thereof and which is not repealed by sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), that corresponding law shall stand repealed  the first schedule[see section 16 (i)] 5 standards of weigk1' i grain = 0'000064799 kilogram 1 ounce = 0'0283495 kilogram, i po\uld = 0'4535924 kilogram i cwt = 5°'802 kilograms 10 i ton = 1016'°5 kilograms, 1 tola = 0'0116638 kilogram 1 seer = 0'933 10 kilo~ i maunj = 31'3242 kilograms, standards of length and capacity 1 inch = 0'0254 metre (exact), 15 1 foot ==; 0'3048 metre (exact) i yard = 0'9144 metre (exact), i mile == 1609'344 metres (exact), i imperial = 4'54596 litres, gauon 20  the second schedule , [see section 18 (2)]1 the assam adoption of standard weights act, 1955 (ix of 1955) :as 2 the bhopal state weights jilld measures act, 1953, (xv of 1953) 3, the bihar weights act, 1947 (xvii of 1947) 4 the bombay weights and measures act, 1932 (xv of 1932) 5 the central provinces and berar weights and measures of capacity act, 1928 (ii of 1928) 6 the cochin weights and measures act, 1112 (lxiii of 1112) 7 the coorg act, 1954 (vii of 1954) 8 the hyderabad weights and measures act (xiv of 1:~56 10 fasll)  9 the madhya bharat weights act, 1954 (21 of 1954) 10 the madras weights and measures act, 1948 (xxii of 1948), as in force ir the state of madras or of andhra 11 the mysore weights and measures act, 1902 (iii of 1902) is 12 the orissa weights and measures act, 1943 (vii of 1943) 13 the punjab weights and measures act, 1941 (xii of 1941) 14 the rajasthan weights and measures act, 1954 (xix of 1954) 20 15 the travancore weights and measures act, 1085 (vi of -1085) 16 the united provinces weights and measures act, 1947 (xxiii of 1947)  statement of objects and reasonsthe standards of weights and length have been laid down in the standards of weight act, 1939, and the measures 'of length act 1889 the standards being the seer, the pound, the yard and their multiples and sub-multiples these standards, however, have not been effectively enforced throughout the country, with the result that different systems of weights and measures prevail in different parts of the country moreover, the same term often represents different units of weight in different areas and in different trades even within the same area this state of chaos hampers trade and provides opportunity for the exploitation of the masses there is urgent need for enforcing a uniform system of weights and measures throughout the country the question has been under consideration of the government for some time past and it is felt that the best course would be to adopt a uniform system of weights and measures based on the metric system this system has already been adopted by nearly 70 countries and is recognised in all the ccuntries of the world its adoption, together with the decimalisation of coinage, will be in the best interests of trade and industry of our country 2 the bill seeks to lay down meter as the primary unit of length and kilogram as the primary unit of mass it lays down standards not only for mass and length, but also for time, temperature, el~­tric current and luminous intensity the bill merely lays down the standards of weights ard measures under entry 50 of the union list, parliament is competent only to establish stmdards of weights and measures while under entry 29 of the state' list, the actual implementation and edorcement of these standards would be the responsibility of state governments 3 the transition to the metric system will be gradual and according to a phased programme a maximum period of ten years has been provided for the complete adoption of the system while the transition should be gradual, a far too leisurely pace may defftat the ~urpose of the reform the bill seeks to repeal not only the two central acts, namely, the standards of weight act, 1939, and the measure of lengath act, 1889, but also every state act in so far as it establishes any standard of weight or measure during the transitional period, however, the use of the standards now prevail  ing will be permitted to the extent necessary n kanungo ~ew delhi; 'rhe 2!'ith july, 1956 ctlaulft: - and ", o~ the btlll! :requfre· the central gevemmeftt to luwe ~ p~plfjf dte meilm- add ltilogram; prepared and ~fied' in i!fmw at tlti' inq!mat/kmal proto-types; and to depesit theur with  lui  · agacyt the l'l'b'tienal protte-types will be lnpm\al?a!d' fpird- the- ilwematkma l!jupeau ofi 'weights and measures 8iikf ta~'wi"nl g05t abotibme lalth of t11pee& they will be deposited witjio td\e "'8_1 p~call iaberatcftoy' which he tile' neees&ffi'y itmiktiu imc:f wtuj n« ha'le" ul ineur addttimml expenditure for the  plirp811e! 2 cl8use; 15 'el the bill reqj1ires the central government to prepare s,:ts 0£ standards authenticated from the primary units 'mdl'te aimki6uft! fhrt- fu· str (;bvemment&; the standards will be manufactured in the government of india mints it will be necessary to provide additional equipment of the value of 4 to 5 lakhs rupees at the mints it will also be necessary to employ extra staff for a period of one year the estimated additional expenditure on staff and materials is about two lakhs of rupees the total non-recurring expenditure in manufacturing and si\lpplying standards is, therefore, about 7 lakhi of rupees  3 clauses 3, 4 and 15 of the bill will jnvolve a non-recurring expenditure from the consolidated fund of india of about 8 lakhs of rupee  memorandum regarding delegated legislationclause 17 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules to carry out the purposes of the bill when enacted the matters in respect of which such rules may be made have been specified therein they relate to the preparation and custody of sets of standard mass and measures and their periodical verification the limits of error which may be tolerated when standard mass and measures are manufactured or used may also be provided by rules the rules may also provide for the manner in which weights and measures now prevailing may be converted into standard mull and measures provision has been made that any rules made under this section shall be laid before both houses 6f parliament 2 the proposed 'deleeation of leeialative power uj of a domy1 character i a bill to establish standards of weights and measures based on the metric system, the president has, in pursuance of clause (3) of article 117 of the constitution of india, recommended to lok sabha the consideration of the bill m n kaul, secretary (shri nityanand kanungo, minister of consumer industries) gipnd isss ls -ls-i-zl-lo-s6-aoo 