Boilers Bill, 2024

The Lok Sabha recently passed the Boilers Bill, 2024, aimed at regulating boilers, ensuring the safety of life and property from steam-boiler explosions, and standardizing registration processes.

Key Objectives

• Repeal the century-old Boilers Act, 1923.
• Enhance ease of doing business, with a focus on small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), by incorporating decriminalization measures.
• Remove obsolete provisions and colonial-era regulations to make the Bill more relevant and modern.
• Ensure boiler repair is conducted by qualified and competent individuals.

Legislative Process

• The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in December of the previous year.
• It awaits the President of India's assent to become law.
• Passed through a voice vote in the Lok Sabha.

Statements and Clarifications

• Commerce and industry minister, Piyush Goyal, emphasized the simplicity and readability of the Bill.
• Clarified that the Bill should not be associated with the Bhopal gas tragedy.

The Bill represents a significant step towards modernizing the regulatory framework for boilers in India, promoting safety, and fostering business efficiency.