Wed Dec 04 16:39:05 UTC 2024: ## Rajya Sabha Passes New Boilers Bill, Replacing Colonial-Era Legislation

**New Delhi, December 4, 2024** – The Rajya Sabha today passed the Boilers Bill, a significant update to the 1923 Boilers Act inherited from the colonial era. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal championed the bill, emphasizing its role in ensuring uniformity and safety standards across India for industrial boilers. The new legislation aims to standardize construction, pressure specifications, registration, and periodic inspections to protect life and property from boiler explosions.

While the bill passed, opposition members voiced concerns. Concerns were raised about the bill’s lack of consideration for environmental and sustainability issues, with Nationalist Congress Party MP Fauzia Khan highlighting the insufficient penalties proposed in relation to the potential for catastrophic consequences. Amendments proposed by the Opposition were defeated through a voice vote. Minister Goyal, in his response, also addressed upcoming parliamentary debates on the Constitution, dismissing what he termed “fake narratives” surrounding the issue.

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