Rajya Sabha passes Boilers Bill

The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed The Boilers Bill, 2024 which seeks to repeal the century old Boilers Act, 1923 and decriminalise seven offences to promote ease of doing business.

The Bill would provide for the regulation of boilers, safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of steam-boilers and uniformity in registration. The Union Cabinet had cleared the bill in August.

“The Boiler Bill, in a way, keeps the country safe and secure. It provides for a clear and transparent regulatory mechanism and sets accountability,” said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal.


Out of the seven offences, to ensure the safety of boilers and personnel, in four major offences which may result in loss of life and property, criminal penalties are retained.

For other offences, a provision is being made for a financial penalty. For all non-criminal offences, 'fine' has been converted into 'penalty' to be levied through executive mechanism instead of courts as existed earlier.

The bill also provisions to ensure the safety of persons working inside a boiler, it said, adding, it also talked about repair of boilers to be undertaken by qualified and competent persons.