India, Sept. 15 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, is strengthening the country's Legal Metrology verification infrastructure through the expanding network of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs). A fresh round of applications for recognition has received strong response from industry, laboratories and technical institutions across the country.
Following amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, the scope of GATCs has been broadened to cover 23 categories of weighing and measuring instruments across sectors including healthcare, energy, transport, retail, manufacturing, infrastructure and emerging clean-energy sectors.
The Department has continued to invite eligible industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities to seek recognition as GATCs. Applications were once again invited through the Department's online portal, with the latest application window receiving active response from prospective applicants.
A number of applications have been received from eligible organisations following the latest call and are presently under process by the Department in consultation with the concerned State Legal Metrology Departments.
The applications are being examined for:
With 51 GATCs already recognised and a healthy pipeline of applications under active consideration, the GATC network is set to expand further in the coming months, widening the base of technically competent verification facilities available to industry and consumers.
Key Highlights
Several States align GATC Rules with amended central framework
In a significant development reinforcing the Centre-State partnership underpinning the GATC framework, several States have finalised and notified their own GATC Rules in line with the amended central framework. This alignment at the State level is expected to further deepen the reach of the verification ecosystem, enable smoother coordination between State Legal Metrology Departments and recognised GATCs, and support faster and more localised verification services for businesses and consumers across the country.
GATCs supplement State Legal Metrology infrastructure
The expansion of the GATC network is a significant step in the Department's ongoing efforts to modernise India's Legal Metrology ecosystem. By enabling technically competent private institutions to undertake verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures, the initiative supplements the capacity of State Legal Metrology Departments.
This allows Legal Metrology Officers to devote greater attention to:
Verification covers 23 categories of instruments
The expanded GATC framework covers 23 categories of weighing and measuring instruments, including:
As the network of GATCs continues to grow, supported by fresh applications and the alignment of State-level rules with the central framework, the Department is steadily building a larger, more accessible and technologically capable verification infrastructure. The expansion reflects the combined efforts of the Legal Metrology system to advance Ease of Doing Business while simultaneously strengthening consumer protection and confidence in everyday commercial transactions.
The Department reiterates its commitment to building a transparent, technology-driven and self-reliant system of measurement verification that enhances fairness in trade and protects the interests of consumers across the country.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
