Bengaluru: More than 85% of fuel dispensing nozzles inspected across Karnataka were found to be dispensing less petrol or diesel than the calibrated quantity, according to the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

The findings emerged during an eight-day inspection drive covering 805 fuel stations across the state. Officials inspected 3,071 dispensing nozzles, of which 2,618, or 85.24%, were found to have some level of under-delivery.

Of the 805 fuel stations inspected, 768 were identified as requiring recalibration of their dispensing equipment.

Karnataka currently has 5,946 petrol pumps, meaning the latest inspection covered only a portion of the state’s fuel stations. The department has said it will continue the verification exercise and aims to complete inspections of all fuel stations by December 2026.

101 fuel stations exceeded permissible limit

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said the inspection findings included fuel dispensing nozzles operating both within and beyond the permissible variation.

Under the applicable Union government regulations, fuel dispensing equipment is permitted a variation of up to 0.5% either below or above the prescribed quantity. This translates to a permissible variation of 5 ml per litre.

Among the 768 fuel stations that required recalibration, 101 were found to have discrepancies exceeding the permissible 0.5% limit.

Cases were registered against establishments where the variation exceeded the prescribed limit, and fines totalling Rs 6.6 lakh were imposed, the minister said.

Three stations were also found to be dispensing fuel in excess of the permissible margin.

The department’s findings distinguish between a nozzle showing a shortage within the permitted variation and one exceeding the legal limit. Fuel stations where the shortage remains within the permissible range are not liable for penalties or cases solely on that account, but the equipment is required to be recalibrated.

What the permissible variation means

Fuel dispensing machines are subject to specified measurement tolerances to account for variations in dispensing equipment.

The permissible variation of 0.5% means that a dispensing nozzle can legally show a difference of up to 5 ml for every litre dispensed.

However, Arshad said nozzles showing discrepancies, even when they remain within the permissible limit, should be recalibrated.

“In such cases, the department should be informed and the nozzle recalibrated,” he said.

The department’s inspection is aimed at verifying the accuracy of dispensing equipment and identifying cases where the permitted variation is exceeded.

The exercise is also intended to ensure that consumers receive the quantity of fuel for which they pay.

Recalibration rules under scrutiny

The minister also raised concerns over a recent amendment to the rules governing the frequency of recalibration of fuel dispensing equipment.

Under Section 4(12)(e) of the Karnataka Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011, fuel dispensing equipment was required to be recalibrated to address discrepancies at the end of one year.

However, Arshad said the Union government amended the Legal Metrology (General) Rules through GSR 905(E) in December 2025, extending the recalibration period for petrol pump nozzles from one year to two years.

He questioned the rationale behind extending the interval, citing the results of the recent inspection drive.

According to data cited by the minister from the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 1,430.86 crore litres of fuel were sold in Karnataka during 2024-25.

Arshad said the inspection findings indicated that consumers could potentially face substantial losses if equipment with measurement discrepancies is allowed to remain without recalibration for longer periods.

He said he would urge the Union government to withdraw the amendment, citing consumer interests.

Inspection of all fuel stations planned

The Food and Civil Supplies Department plans to continue inspecting fuel stations that were not covered during the latest eight-day drive.

The department aims to complete verification of all 5,946 fuel stations in Karnataka by December 2026.

As part of efforts to improve transparency, an online dashboard containing verification and stamping details of fuel stations across the state is also planned.

The dashboard is expected to provide information on the verification status of dispensing equipment and related details, enabling greater public visibility of the regulatory process.

The department’s continued inspections will also help identify fuel stations where dispensing equipment requires recalibration or where discrepancies exceed the permissible limits.

‘Mission Nikhara’ awareness campaign planned

The department is additionally planning to launch ‘Mission Nikhara – Measurement Guarantee’, an awareness campaign aimed at protecting consumers from violations involving measurement.

The campaign is expected to focus on consumer awareness and the importance of accurate measurement in transactions involving fuel and other commodities.

The latest inspection drive has highlighted the need for regular verification and maintenance of fuel dispensing equipment. While not every nozzle found to be under-delivering was operating outside the legally permitted tolerance, the department has stressed that equipment showing discrepancies should be recalibrated.

With inspections scheduled to continue across the state, the department’s next phase will cover the remaining fuel stations and seek to establish a comprehensive picture of the accuracy of fuel dispensing equipment in Karnataka.