Following our earlier coverage (please refer to the e-mail in trail), the Boilers Act, 2025 (“2025 Act”) has received Presidential assent on 4th April, 2025. The legislation will gain effect on a date to be notified separately by the Central Government, which may appoint different commencement dates for different provisions of the statute.
The 2025 Act repeals the Boilers Act, 1923 (“erstwhile Act”) and introduces a modern regulatory regime aimed at enhancing industrial safety, in the manufacture, inspection and use of boilers and boiler components. The new law seeks to standardize procedures across jurisdictions while simultaneously introducing substantive safety safeguards for workers and property.
Key Highlights:
- Applicability- The 2025 Act applies to all boilers and boiler components, including those belonging to the Central and State Governments. However, it excludes locomotive boilers belonging to or under the control of the railways, boilers or boiler components in any vessel propelled wholly or in part by the agency of steam, boilers belonging to or under the control of the Army, Navy or Air Force and those boilers appertaining to a sterilizer or disinfector used in hospitals or nursing homes, if the boiler does not exceed one hundred litres in capacity.
- Date of Enforcement- The 2025 Act received the President’s assent on April 4, 2025, and will come into force on such date as specified by the Central Government through notification. Different dates may be appointed for enforcement of different provisions of this Act.
- Ommission of obsolete provisions- The Act omits several obsolete provisions from the 1923 statute, including:
- Section 1(2): Reiterating nationwide applicability (now rendered redundant);
- Section 2A: Defining applicability to feed-pipes; and
- Section 2B: Extending applicability to economisers.
- Important Provisions-
- Safety provisions for workers working inside a boiler- The safety of persons working inside a boiler must be ensured, by taking such measures, as may be specified by regulations during repair of boilers.
- Boiler repairer to obtain a certificate- A boiler repairer will be required to obtain a certificate in manner as may be specified by regulations.
- Transfer of boilers within a State to be reported- The transfer of boilers from one place to another within a State must be reported in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government.
- Decriminalization of offences- The 2025 Act decriminalizes several minor offenses, aligning with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023. General Penalty section has also been done away with.
- Appeals- Provisions for appeals against decisions of Inspectors and the Chief Inspector, with further appeals to the Central Government.
- Additional powers have been conferred upon the Central Boilers Board- They can now determine their own procedure for conduct of all business to be transacted by the Board and will have the power to constitute committees/ sub-committees from amongst its members; will have the power to delegate any of its powers and duties to such committees/ sub-committees.
- Functions of the Central Boilers Board have been enumerated- The functions of the Board will be to regulate the design, manufacture, erection and use of boiler and boiler components to ensure safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of steam-boilers and for uniformity in registration and inspection and for these purposes, make such regulations as it deems fit.
- Rearrangement of the erstwhile Act- The 2025 Act is simplified and structured into six chapters, consolidating similar provisions for clarity and accessibility.
Note: The 2025 Act will come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. Different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act to gain effect.
A copy of the Notification is attached herewith for your ease of reference.
Source: Ministry of Law and Justice
