MDG guidelines for a petrol pump: MDG 2024 in ten points

Short answer

The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) are the oil companies' rules for petrol pump dealers, binding through the dealership agreement. In ten points: record density by 10 AM MDG 1.4.1(c) MDG 5.1.9, match every tanker's density to its invoice within ±3.0 kg/m³ MDG 1.2(iv), keep stock variation within 4% of tank stock plus allowances MDG 5.1.11, and keep the records MDG lists MDG 5.1.12. Irregularities are critical, major or minor MDG 8.1, and repeats are counted over five years MDG 8.5.5.

The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (MDG 2024) are the oil companies' rules for their dealers, and bind dealers through the dealership agreement. This page is a plain-language explanation by MDG Services (a brand of VRUOOM Private Limited). It is not the official text and is not connected with or approved by IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL or any government body, so please check the current guidelines and circulars on the oil companies' own websites and with your oil company officer before you act.

Checked against the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (Ver. 1, effective 24.10.2024) on 31 October 2026. Published by MDG Services on 31 October 2026.

Before the first sale each morning

Record the density by 10 AM. Take a nozzle sample and write its 15°C density in your register before the first sale, by 10 AM at the latest MDG 1.4.1(c) MDG 5.1.9. See reference density.
Test every nozzle. Use your Weights & Measures verified 5-litre measure and write the litres used in the stock register MDG 1.4.2(b) MDG 1.4.2(d). MDG prints a band of ±10 ml to ±25 ml per 5 litres; the exact limit is in Legal Metrology law. Inside the limit sales go on, but recalibrate and re-stamp within 15 days; beyond it that nozzle stops MDG 5.1.2(a). See the 5-litre test.
Dip every tank and write up the stock. Record meter readings, product dips and water dips MDG 1.3 MDG 1.4.1(b). The normal gap between book and dip is 4% of tank stock, plus handling loss and, where they apply, shrinkage or TVA MDG 5.1.11. See stock variation.

When a tanker arrives

Match the invoice. Each compartment's density, brought to 15°C, must be within ±3.0 kg/m³ of the invoice density MDG 1.2(iv). After decanting, run at least 50 litres through the pump and record the density again MDG 1.2(xiv). See the tanker density check.
Keep your own sample. Before decanting, draw, seal, label and sign it with the driver. Keep the samples of the last two loads for each tank MDG 2.3 MDG 2.9.2. See the retention sample.

Through the day

Show the boards and give the basics. Display prices MDG 5.1.15, density, opening stock and complaint contacts MDG 5.1.17. Keep air, a telephone, a first aid box and a clean toilet ready MDG 5.1.14. Lapses here are minor MDG 8.4. See display boards and customer service.
Keep the records. Sales register, density register, maintenance records, purchase invoices and sales bills: this and the previous financial year. Inspection record: the previous five years MDG 5.1.12. See records to keep.

When an inspector visits

Let the visit and the sampling go ahead. Refusing or obstructing is a major irregularity MDG 5.1.8 MDG 8.3. A show cause notice is due within 30 days of the inspection, or of the test results if samples were drawn, and you have 10 days to reply MDG 8.5.6 MDG 8.5.7. See what an inspection covers and the show cause timeline.

If an irregularity is found

Know the three classes. Critical means termination at the first instance MDG 8.2. Major usually means 15 days' suspension of sales and supplies, then 30 days, then termination MDG 8.3. Minor means a warning-cum-guidance letter, then Rs 10,000, then Rs 25,000 per irregularity MDG 8.4. See which class is my lapse and the penalty ladders.
Expect a five-year look-back. For a second or third instance, the oil company counts back five years from the date the irregularity is established, including the previous guideline MDG 8.5.5. See how repeat offences are counted.

Test-style questions: part 1, density and samples, records and penalties.

General information, not legal advice. For your own notice, speak to an advocate or your oil company.

Questions dealers ask

01MDG kya hai petrol pump par? What does MDG stand for?

Marketing Discipline Guidelines, the public-sector oil companies' rules for their retail outlet and kerosene dealers. The edition in force took effect on 24.10.2024 MDG 2024, cover page.

02Are there MDG guidelines for 2026, newer than MDG 2024?

We have logged no separate 2025 or 2026 edition. MDG 2024 is Version 1 dated 24.10.2024, and we hold one circular under it, dated 20.03.2025 MDG 2024, cover page Circular 20.03.2025. For anything newer, ask your oil company. See where to read the PDF.

03What is the MDG penalty meaning?

It is the action the oil company takes once an irregularity is established: a letter, a fine, a suspension of sales and supplies, or termination MDG 8.2 MDG 8.3 MDG 8.4 MDG 8.5.2.

Read the official text: Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (PDF on Bharat Petroleum's website) (also published on iocl.com).

MDG 2024 questions and answers: stock, nozzle, density and penalty limitsShort answers, with figure and clause, to what dealers are asked in training and tests: tank variation, HSD handling loss, nozzle limit, density, penalties.

MDG 2024 questions and answers, part 2: density, samples and qualityPart 2 of the dealer test questions on MDG 2024: density records, samples, filter paper, water dip and the mobile lab, each with its figure and clause.

MDG 2024 questions and answers, part 3: records, inspections and penaltiesPart 3 of the dealer test questions on MDG 2024: records, inspections, show cause timing, fines and repeat counting, each with its figure and clause.

Petrol and diesel density range in India: 720–775 and 810–845 kg/m³ (MDG 2024)Diesel density range is 810–845 kg/m³ at 15°C (820–860 for B8–B20 blends) and petrol 720–775 kg/m³, as MDG 2024 lists. What your pump reading means.

About Dealer Kavach (advertisement)

Dealer Kavach is an app from MDG Services that tracks your outlet's filings, renewals, inspections and daily reports, and reminds you before deadlines, in Hindi and English.

About this page. This page is a plain-language explanation published by MDG Services, a brand of VRUOOM PRIVATE LIMITED (CIN U29194HR2021PTC098450). It is general information, offered free of charge. It is not the official text of any rule.

Not connected with the oil companies or the government. MDG Services is a private company. It is not connected with, approved by, endorsed by, or acting for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) or any government body. Our name shares letters with the short form "MDG" that the oil companies use for their Marketing Discipline Guidelines. That does not mean any link with them.

Names and marks. IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL and the names of their documents belong to their owners. We write them only to say whose rules we are explaining.

Check the official source. The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024 (Ver. 1, effective 24.10.2024) and related circulars are issued by the oil companies. Rules, amounts and dates can change, and amendments may reach dealers directly without being public. Before you act, read the current documents on the oil companies' own websites (iocl.com, bharatpetroleum.in, hindustanpetroleum.com) and ask your own oil company's officer. If this page and the official document differ, the official document is the one to follow.

What the amounts mean. Amounts in the guidelines are the minimum action. The oil company may take higher action, up to ending the dealership. Do not treat any amount shown here as your full exposure.

Court and Parliament items. Where we mention a court order or a statement in Parliament, we report what was said on the date shown. It is not the rule for your outlet, and the position may have changed since. Your dealership agreement and the oil company's current guidelines decide.

Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice. For your own notice, reply or appeal, speak to an advocate or your oil company. Examples use made-up outlets.

Last checked. The "checked" date shows the day we last compared this page with the official documents. It does not promise that nothing has changed since.

Report an error or send a legal notice. If you see a mistake, or need to send us a notice, write to hello@mdgservices.in. We read every message, check it, and correct or remove the page.

Limits on our responsibility. We take reasonable care to keep this page accurate. To the extent the law allows, MDG Services and VRUOOM PRIVATE LIMITED are not responsible for loss caused by relying on this page alone instead of the official documents. This does not limit anything the law does not allow us to limit, including responsibility for fraud or for an error we knew about and did not correct. Your legal rights are not affected.

Advertisement. The box headed "About Dealer Kavach" is an advertisement for a paid service from MDG Services. This explanation is free and needs no sign-up or purchase to read.

Hindi pages. Hindi pages are written for easy reading. If a Hindi page and the official English document differ, the official English document is the one to follow.

Full disclaimer

Report an error or send a legal notice: hello@mdgservices.in