An online portal for private industries, laboratories, and testing facilities is launched to apply for recognition as Government Approved Test Centres. Applications can be submitted online through the official portal until 30 November 2025: https://doca.gov.in/gatc. This initiative is a significant step in expanding India’s verification ecosystem and infrastructure for weights and measures, aimed at ensuring accuracy, transparency and fairness in trade.

The Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution taken this initiative under the Legal Metrology Government Approved Test Centre Rules, 2013, which were amended on 23 October 2025. This empowered private sector participation, enabling industries with adequate facilities to become a part of India’s expanding verification ecosystem. Through this reform, private laboratories and industries will now be able to participate in the verification of weighing and measuring instruments used for transaction & protection. This reflects a public–private partnership model aimed at improving verification capacity, reducing waiting time and ensuring quality verification services for trade and consumers.

Organizations with proper testing equipment, calibration facilities, and qualified staff are invited to apply for GATC recognition. The online application process aims to make it easier for businesses to apply and ensure faster, transparent approvals through a digital platform.

Recognized GATCs will be authorized to verify 18 types of weighing and measuring instruments, including:                                                

1. Water meter                                                                      

2. Sphygmomanometer

3. Clinical thermometer                                                               

4. Automatic rail weighbridges

5. Tape measures

6. Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class III (upto 150kg)

7.Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class IIII

8. Load cell

9. Beam scale

10. Counter machine                                          

11. Weights of all category

12. Gas meters

13. Energy meters

14. Moisture meters

15. Speed meters for vehicles

16. Breath analyzers

17. Multi-dimensional measuring instruments

18. Flow meters

Any organization seeking recognition as a Government Approved Test Centre can now apply online through the new portal by submitting the prescribed form to the Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs. The portal offers a simple and transparent process for application, fee payment, and status tracking, ensuring faster and more efficient approvals.

Applicants must have proper testing and calibration facilities linked to national standards, along with qualified technical staff who have at least three years of experience in Legal Metrology. Before granting approval, officials from the Department and State Legal Metrology offices will inspect the applicant’s premises to verify infrastructure, staff competence, and calibration systems. As per the Legal Metrology (GATC) Amendment Rules, 2025, applicants are required to pay an online fee of ₹2 lakh per category of instrument or equipment, which will also apply annually for renewal of recognition.

The recognized GATCs shall take verification or re-verification fees as specified in the newly introduced Fifth Schedule of the Rules. These standardized fees ensure uniformity and transparency across the country. For example, Rs. 250 for domestic water meters, Rs. 1,000 for commercial water meters, Rs. 2,500 for industrial water meters, Rs. 100 per sphygmomanometer, Rs. 50 per clinical thermometer, Rs. 3,000 for non-automatic weighing instruments up to 150 kg, Rs. 5,000 for flow meters up to 100 mm, etc.  Where the verification item is not listed in the Fifth Schedule, the fee structure of the concerned State Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules will apply.

The expanded scope of GATCs covers key instruments across healthcare, transport, infrastructure and energy sectors, where measurement precision is critical for consumer safety and economic efficiency.  This initiative aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, fostering domestic testing capability and self-reliance by leveraging the expertise of Indian industries. Recognized GATCs will help decentralize verification activities and provide more accessible and timely services to manufacturers, traders and users across the country.

 The participation of private industries as Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) will boost the capacity of State Legal Metrology Departments. This will allow State officers to focus on inspection, enforcement, and consumer grievance redressal, improving overall regulatory efficiency. The expanded GATC network will ensure accurate and reliable weighing and measuring instruments, protecting consumers and strengthening trust in trade.

The amendments also align India’s system with global OIML standards. As an OIML Certification Authority, India can now issue internationally accepted certificates, helping Indian manufacturers obtain global certification within the country.

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RT/ ARC

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