This was helped by low popular literacy and the fact that there was previously no nationwide standard measurement system—British imperial units were used by the upper class, while various regional systems were used by the poor[citation needed].
Before metrication, the government of India followed the Indian Weights and Measures Act passed in 1870 which used the British imperial system.
P. N. Seth was the founder and secretary of the Indian Decimal Society, whose aim it was to push for the introduction of the metric system in India.
Since 1930, they advocated for discarding the old chaotic system by writing in newspapers, journals, participating in debates and distributing literature.
During the post-WWII interim government, there were attempts to introduce some standardisation in weights and measures but the conservative section of the ruling party never allowed it to be passed.