The Blog

Relief for Industry: OTR Order, 2024 Withdrawn

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has issued a significant regulatory update providing much-needed clarity and relief to manufacturers and importers.

The Government of India has rescinded the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 with immediate effect, as notified in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated 16 January 2026.

See the official document here.

The withdrawal has been issued under Section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, stating that the decision has been taken in the public interest. Consequently, Notification S.O. 3649(E) dated 28 August 2024 stands fully withdrawn and is no longer in force.

What this means for the industry

This development brings regulatory certainty and immediate relief to manufacturers, importers, and supply chains that were preparing for an omnibus safety regulation with an uncertain enforcement timeline.

This withdrawal reflects a broader policy recalibration, likely driven by:

• the need to avoid regulatory uncertainty and trade disruption caused by open-ended enforcement timelines,
• implementation and readiness challenges related to conformity assessment infrastructure and Scheme-X certification,
• and a possible shift towards more targeted, sector-specific quality and safety regulations instead of a single omnibus framework.

Importantly, this is not merely a deferment. The OTR Order, 2024 has been formally cancelled, and cannot explain future obligations unless a new regulation is notified.

What is expected next

• There is no current OTR-based compliance obligation for machinery and electrical equipment.
• Businesses should continue focusing on existing BIS Quality Control Orders (QCOs), CRS requirements covering Scheme I / II / X certifications where applicable.
• Any future omnibus machinery safety regulation would require a fresh notification, allowing industry adequate visibility and preparation time.

REACHLaw will continue to closely monitor regulatory developments and provide early insights, impact analysis, and practical guidance to help businesses plan compliance proactively rather than reactively.

How REACHLaw India can support you

REACHLaw India offers end-to-end support for BIS certification scoping, QCO compliance covering Indian Standard, Scheme I / II / X certification, factory readiness towards BIS inspections, marketing & labelling support, standard development advisory, and regulatory strategy to ensure smooth and compliant access to the Indian market.

For BIS and India regulatory compliance support, contact us at indiabis@reachlaw.fi