India allows testing centres to verify measuring instruments at district, state level to cut compliance burden
New Delhi
In a move to enhance accuracy, transparency, and fairness in trade, the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified key amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013. The updated framework, announced on Thursday, significantly expands India’s verification infrastructure for weights and measures, aligning it with international best practices while promoting consumer protection and ease of doing business.
According to the official statement, the revised rules broaden the scope of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to cover 18 categories of weighing and measuring instruments. These include water meters, energy meters, gas meters, clinical thermometers, moisture meters, flow meters, sphygmomanometers, and non-automatic weighing instruments. New additions such as flow meters, breath analysers, multi-dimensional measuring instruments, and speed guns reflect the government’s commitment to keeping pace with advancing technology and industrial needs.
These instruments are crucial for sectors like healthcare, transport, energy, and infrastructure, where measurement accuracy directly affects safety and consumer confidence. By involving private laboratories and industries as GATCs alongside government facilities, the amendments aim to improve verification capacity, accessibility, and reduce waiting times for industries.
The move supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by encouraging indigenous testing facilities and expanding the verification network through public–private partnerships. Additionally, the recognition of Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) and National Test House (NTH) laboratories as deemed GATCs ensures a seamless nationwide system for verification of consumer-facing instruments.
Officials said the decentralised verification process will minimise inaccuracies in weighing scales and meters, ensuring consumers receive full value for money. With GATCs handling verification, State Legal Metrology Departments can now focus more on inspection, enforcement, and addressing consumer grievances effectively.
