The importance of Measurement activities was felt significantly around the globe during the middle part of the twentieth century. Governments around the globe converge together and a treaty was formed amongst member countries and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OILM) was formed in 1955. The aims and objectives of this Organization was to ensure an appropriate level of credibility of measurement results in the national regulation of measurement. The issue gained momentum worldwide and as a result World Metrology Day is observed annually in most of the countries worldwide. The Government of India is one of the member countries which is a signatory of the said organization.

In India, the Directorate of Legal Metrology is one of the separate wings under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food & Civil Supplies. The Government of India enforces the Legal Metrology Act & Rules through the Director at the centre who in turn delegates his powers to the Controllers of the States for effective enforcement of the provisions of the Acts & Rules.
In Meghalaya, the Department came into existence with the inception of the State which was earlier known as “The Department of Weights and Measures”. Subsequently in line with other States of India, the Nomenclature of the Department was changed to “Legal Metrology” with effect from 28th January 2010 vide Government Notification No.WM(G)12/85/250. The Department enforces the provisions of the Legal Metrology Acts & Rules through the Controller with the assistance of the Subordinate Officers of the Department. In view of the above, it is therefore felt necessary that the Manual be formulated for effective functioning of the Department and simultaneously be informative for the public at large.