Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) glossary: terms and full forms

Terms from Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024), the oil companies' rules for their dealers, in A to Z order. "(Trade reading)" marks a meaning MDG does not spell out. Where an entry names a standard, check its current version.

Numbers and A to C

• 3-tier sampling. The lab compares your nozzle sample with the tanker retention sample and the supply location sample MDG 2.1 MDG 2.5(G). Sampling.
• Adulteration. A foreign substance put into petrol or diesel illegally or without authority, so that it fails the BIS standard. MDG also counts a sample outside the reference sample's test limits MDG 5.1.1. A critical irregularity MDG 8.2.
• Annexure. The numbered forms, labels and tables at the back of MDG 2024: 13, plus 12a and 13a MDG Annexure 1.
• ASTM Table 53B. Brings a tanker's density to 15°C MDG 1.2(iv). Use the table, not a rule of thumb MDG 1.5(vi).
• ATG. Part of the automation; switching it off without authorisation is an irregularity MDG 5.1.16. Automatic tank gauge (trade reading).
• BIS. Bureau of Indian Standards. MDG names IS 2796, IS 17586 and IS 17021 for petrol, IS 1460 and IS 16531 for diesel MDG 5.1.1.
• Branded fuel. Fuel sold under a brand name. Selling ordinary fuel as branded, on purpose, is major MDG 5.1.10 MDG 8.3.
• CA / CSA / DSM. Staff titles in the 20.03.2025 circular Circular 20.03.2025. DSM is read as driveway salesman (trade reading) MDG 5.1.17.
• Composite density. Density of the mixed fuel in a tank after a delivery, taken once at least 50 litres have gone through the pump MDG 1.2(xiv) MDG 2.10.
• Critical, major and minor irregularity. The three grades that set the first action: critical MDG 8.2, major MDG 8.3, minor MDG 8.4. Penalties.

D to M

• Darpan QR. A QR code near the toilet for customer feedback MDG 5.1.14(b). MDG does not say where it comes from.
• Density at 15°C. Density restated at 15°C; your check must land within ±3.0 kg/m³ of the invoice MDG 1.2(iv). Density.
• Dip rod. Measures the product level in each tank lorry compartment; W&M certified MDG 1.1 MDG 1.2(vii).
• DU (dispensing unit). The dispensing machine on the island; its W&M seal is checked every day MDG 1.4.2(a).
• FTL. Named as FTL-Noida, a place to test your retained sample after a failure MDG 2.5(H). The letters are not spelled out.
• HSD. High Speed Diesel, the diesel sold at the pump MDG 2024, introduction MDG 7.6.
• Instance. The count of an irregularity (first, second, third) over five years, including the previous guideline MDG 8.5.5.
• IQCM. Industry Quality Control Manual: quality-check and sampling procedures at supply locations MDG 2.2.1 MDG 3.1.
• LDO. Appears only in "SKO-LDO dealerships" MDG 5 MDG 8.10. Light diesel oil (trade reading).
• MDG. Marketing Discipline Guidelines, the oil companies' rules for dealers MDG 2024, introduction. MDG 2024 guide.
• Mobile lab. The industry's mobile laboratory, which tests nozzle samples at the outlet MDG 7.1 MDG 2.4.4.
• MPD. Used beside DU for the dispensing machine MDG 5.1.2(a) MDG 5.1.17. Multi-product dispenser (trade reading).
• MS. Motor Spirit, the petrol sold at the pump MDG 2024, introduction MDG 7.6.

N to R

• NANO. "No Automation, No Operation": keep automation working and report any fault at once MDG 1.5(viii). Automated outlets.
• OMC. Oil marketing company: the public-sector companies MDG 2024, introduction, named in the acknowledgement form as IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum.
• PDS. Public Distribution System, through which kerosene (SKO) reaches ration shops MDG 6.
• PESO. The petroleum and explosives authority; the dealer follows its rules MDG 1.5(ii) MDG 3.1.
• PMSBY and PMJJBY. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, two insurance schemes named in the wage duty MDG 1.5(x); MDG 2012 prints the full names MDG 2012 5.1.18.
• Proof level. A level mark on the tank lorry's dip rod and calibration certificate MDG 1.2(v) MDG 1.2(vi). MDG does not define it.
• Reference density. What an inspector measures your fuel against: the invoice density until decanting, then the tank's composite density MDG 2.10 MDG 5.1.9.
• Retention sample. A sealed sample from each tanker load; keep the two most recent loads of each tank MDG 2.3 MDG 2.9.2.
• RO. Retail outlet, the petrol pump MDG 2024, introduction.
• RSP. Retail selling price, displayed for every product sold MDG 5.1.15.

S to Z

• Show cause notice. The written notice of the irregularities found. It is due within 30 days of the inspection, or of the test results if samples were drawn; the dealer has 10 days from issue to reply MDG 8.5.6 MDG 8.5.7. Notice timeline.
• Shrinkage allowance. A loss allowance that applies only at some locations and times MDG 5.1.11 MDG Annexure 8. Shrinkage and TVA.
• SKO. Superior Kerosene Oil. SKO dealers under the Public Distribution System are also called wholesale dealers MDG 6.
• SL, SL1, SL2. Samples held at the supply location. The lab tests your nozzle sample against TL1 and SL1, then TL2 and SL2 only if it fails while TL1 passes MDG 2.5(G). TL2 and SL2 are the other load and its sample (trade reading).
• SLC. State Level Coordinator, told when a mobile lab sample fails MDG 7.2 MDG 7.6.1.
• Speaking order. The reasoned decision after the reply to a show cause notice, preferably within 45 days MDG 8.5.8.
• Stock variation. The gap between your books and the tank stock, after the allowed 4% and listed losses MDG 5.1.11. Stock variation.
• TL / TT. Tank lorry, also written tank truck: the tanker MDG 2.5 MDG Annexure 1.
• TLF. The point at the supply location where tank lorries are filled (trade reading); the invoice shows which one MDG 2.2.1.
• Totaliser (totalizer). Keeps a dispensing unit's running total; tampering with it is critical MDG 5.1.3 MDG 8.2.
• TVA. Temperature Variation Allowance, a credit on the invoice where it applies MDG 5.1.11 MDG Annexure 10.
• VTS / GPS. The system that tracks a tank lorry on its way to your outlet; 3.2 treats GPS and VTS together. Report any deviation before accepting the load MDG 3.2 MDG 1.5(vii). Vehicle tracking system (trade reading).
• Water finding paste. Checks each tank lorry compartment for water; ethanol-blended petrol needs a suitable paste MDG 1.2(vii).
• Whatman 2. The filter paper a dealer keeps for checking petrol and makes available to customers on request MDG 1.4.1(a). Filter paper test.
• W&M. Weights & Measures Department: its seals sit on the metering unit and totaliser MDG 1.4.2(a).