The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has achieved a significant milestone by awarding 12 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates to 11 private entities, strengthening India’s legal metrology verification ecosystem through a structured public–private partnership framework. The certificates were presented by Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Minister of New & Renewable Energy, in the august presence of Shri B. L. Verma, Hon’ble Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, on 24 December 2025.

This landmark step marks a transformative reform in the country’s legal metrology system by expanding verification capacity beyond the public sector and enabling greater participation of qualified private entities. The initiative is aimed at strengthening accuracy and reliability in weights and measures used in trade and consumer transactions, while improving ease of doing business and regulatory efficiency.

The recognition of private entities as GATCs follows the amendment of the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, notified on 23 October 2025. The amended Rules significantly expanded the scope of GATCs and enabled private laboratories and industries meeting prescribed technical criteria to undertake verification and re-verification of weighing and measuring instruments, in line with international best practices.

18 Categories of Instruments Now Covered

Under the amended framework, 18 categories of weighing and measuring instruments are now covered, reflecting the Government’s commitment to addressing evolving technological and sectoral requirements across healthcare, transport, energy, infrastructure and consumer services. These include

• Water meters, energy meters, gas meters
• Flow meters, moisture meters
• Sphygmomanometers and clinical thermometers
• Breath analysers and vehicle speed meters
• Multi-dimensional measuring instruments
• Automatic rail weighbridges
• Tape measures, non-automatic weighing instruments
• Load cells, beam scales, counter machines
• Weights of all categories

Following the notification of the amended Rules, the Department of Consumer Affairs launched a dedicated online portal to invite and process applications from eligible private entities for GATC recognition. The application window, which remained open until 30 November 2025, ensured a transparent, digital and time-bound process, facilitating faster approvals and improved service delivery.

The recognition of private GATCs is expected to significantly improve accessibility to verification services, reduce turnaround time and support faster compliance for manufacturers, traders and service providers across the country. Regular and decentralised verification of consumer-facing instruments such as weighing scales, water meters and energy meters will minimise inaccuracies, ensure consumers receive full value in everyday transactions and strengthen trust in the marketplace.

This public–private partnership initiative aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, leveraging domestic technical capabilities and enabling private entities to contribute meaningfully to India’s expanding verification network within a uniform, transparent and regulated framework.

The continued recognition of Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) and National Test House (NTH) laboratories as deemed GATCs ensures a robust nationwide verification ecosystem. By decentralising verification activities, the reform acts as a force multiplier for State Legal Metrology Departments, allowing Legal Metrology Officers to focus more effectively on inspection, enforcement and consumer grievance redressal.

Through these reforms, the Government reaffirms its commitment to a scientific, technology-driven and future-ready legal metrology system, aligned with international standards and best practices, strengthening consumer confidence, regulatory efficiency and fairness in trade.

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RT/SB

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