With a view to provide a coherent scheme and uniform standards for the Legal Metrology Department, the Standards of Weights & Measures Act, 1956 was enacted based on the metric system and the international system of units recognized by the OIML International Organization of Legal Metrology.

With regard to keeping pace with the rapid advances made in the field of science and technology all over the world, the General Conference on Weights & Measures CGPM evolved a practical system of units known as SI Units International System of Units to facilitate working.

The Standards of Weights & Measures Act, 1956 was revised in the year 1976 with a view to give effect to the international system of units. In the year 1985, the Standards of Weights & Measures Enforcement Act, 1985 was enacted for enforcement of the standards of weights & measures established by or under the 1976 Act.

The advancement of technology necessitated the review of the above-mentioned enactments to simplify regulations, eliminate obsolete provisions, ensure accountability, and bring transparency. For this purpose, the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 was enacted by combining the Standards of Weights & Measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of Weights & Measures Enforcement Act, 1985.

The rules made under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 include

• The Legal Metrology General Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology National Standards Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology Numeration Rules, 2011
• The Legal Metrology Approval of Models Rules, 2011
• The Rajasthan Legal Metrology Enforcement Rules, 2011