On 13 November 2025, the Ministry of Heavy Industries issued S.O. 5179(E), formally notifying the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Second Amendment Order, 2025. This amendment aims to refine the implementation timeline of India’s technical safety framework for machinery and electrical equipment. It is a small yet significant regulatory shift that impacts manufacturers, importers, and distributors across the industrial and electrical sectors.
Background: The Omnibus Technical Regulation Framework
The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 was introduced to create a unified, modern, and comprehensive safety regime for machinery and electrical equipment sold in India. It aligns product safety standards with national and global best practices and places compliance under the oversight of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Under the BIS Act, 2016, the Central Government has powers under Sections 16, 17, and 25 to issue compulsory certification orders and related regulatory amendments. The newly issued Second Amendment Order is made under these statutory powers and in consultation with BIS, ensuring the regulatory approach remains technically grounded and industry-focused.
What the 2025 Second Amendment Changes
The amendment specifically targets Paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (2) of the 2024 Order. Originally, the compliance timeline for the Omnibus Technical Regulation was set to begin one year from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
This timeline was later modified by the First Amendment Order of 2025, which fixed the commencement date to 1st September 2026.
However, the newly issued Second Amendment Order, 2025, replaces that fixed date with a more flexible provision. Under the revised text, the relevant portion now reads:
“…from such date as may be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.”
In other words, instead of prescribing a specific deadline, the government will notify the actual date of enforcement separately at a later stage.
Why This Flexibility Matters
This change may seem procedural, but its practical implications are substantial:
1. More Time for Industry Preparedness
Machinery and electrical equipment manufacturers—both domestic and international—have been gearing up to meet the expanded safety certification and conformity requirements. By removing a fixed deadline, the government allows the industry more breathing room, especially for sectors with complex supply chains or high-cost compliance needs.
2. Better Alignment with Testing and Certification Capacity
BIS and accredited testing laboratories must be fully equipped, staffed, and standardized before mandatory certification begins. A flexible commencement date prevents bottlenecks and avoids overwhelming testing infrastructure.
3. Opportunity for Stakeholder Engagement
The government can now consider additional feedback, conduct impact assessments, and issue clarifications before announcing the final enforcement date—improving regulatory clarity.
4. Consistency with Global Regulatory Practices
Flexible commencement clauses are common in major technical regulation regimes worldwide, allowing regulators to adjust based on industry readiness and technological developments.
Conclusion
The Second Amendment Order, 2025 may be concise, but its effect is meaningful: it ensures that the Omnibus Technical Regulation framework rolls out smoothly, practically, and in alignment with industry and infrastructural preparedness. Stakeholders should keep a close watch for the forthcoming notification specifying the new implementation date. Proactive preparation and continuous monitoring will be essential as India advances toward a safer, more harmonized machinery and electrical equipment safety ecosystem.