Under the Devolution Rules the Regulation of boilers is a provincial subject, subject to legislation by the Indian Legislature. There are at present seven Provincial Boiler Acts; some of them were framed many years ago and are out of date, and all of them are inconsistent with each other. The result is that different rules are enforced in different provinces and the anomalous position has been reached that a boiler which is allowed to work up to a certain pressure in one province can only be worked to a much lower pressure when transferred to another province. Further in the interest of safety a boiler required regular inspection in whatever Province it may be situated and it is wrong that in certain Provinces no boiler law should be in force at all. The object therefore of the present legislation is:- (a) to secure uniformity throughout India in all technical matters connected with boiler regulations e.g., standards of construction, maximum pressure, and (b) to insist on the registration and regular inspection of all boilers throughout India.

The subject being a highly technical one a Committee of three persons including two boiler experts were appointed to examine the existing provincial laws and to put forward proposals for an all India Act, based on the provisions of these laws brought up to date and coordinated. The report of this Committee has been published and the views of Local Governments obtained upon it.

The Indian Boilers Bill having been passed by the Legislature was assented, on 23rd February, 1923. It came on the Statute Book as THE INDIAN BOILERS ACT, 1923 (5 of 1923).