New Delhi: The Department of Consumer Affairs awarded 12 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates to 11 private entities, strengthening India’s legal metrology verification system through public–private partnership.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi presented the GATC certificates on December 24, 2025. Minister of State B.L. Verma was also present at the ceremony.
Through this step, the Department expanded verification capacity beyond the public sector. As a result, accuracy in weights and measures used in trade and consumer transactions will improve.
At the same time, officials said the initiative would enhance regulatory efficiency and ease of doing business. Therefore, manufacturers and traders can expect faster compliance.
The recognition followed amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, notified on October 23, 2025. These amendments allowed qualified private laboratories to undertake verification and re-verification.
Accordingly, the reform aligned India’s legal metrology framework with international best practices. It also widened participation in the verification ecosystem.
GATC certificates expand coverage to 18 instrument categories
Under the amended Rules, GATC certificates now cover 18 categories of weighing and measuring instruments. As a result, the framework addresses evolving needs across multiple sectors.
These include water, gas and energy meters, as well as flow and moisture meters. In addition, sphygmomanometers, clinical thermometers, breath analysers and vehicle speed meters are covered.
The list also includes multi-dimensional measuring instruments and automatic rail weighbridges. Moreover, tape measures, non-automatic weighing instruments, load cells, beam scales and counter machines are included.
Weights of all categories also fall under the revised framework.
Following the amendments, the Department launched a dedicated online portal to process applications. The window remained open until November 30, 2025, ensuring a transparent and time-bound process.
As a result, private GATCs will improve access to verification services and reduce turnaround time. This will benefit manufacturers, traders and service providers nationwide.
Regular and decentralised verification of consumer-facing instruments will minimise inaccuracies. Consequently, consumers will receive fair value in daily transactions.
The initiative also supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision by leveraging domestic technical capabilities. At the same time, it enables private entities to contribute to India’s verification network.
Meanwhile, Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and National Test House laboratories will continue as deemed GATCs. Therefore, the nationwide verification ecosystem will remain robust.
By decentralising verification activities, the reform will allow State Legal Metrology Officers to focus on inspection, enforcement and grievance redressal.
Officials said the reforms reaffirm the government’s commitment to a scientific, technology-driven and future-ready legal metrology system.
