Centre Invites Applications for Approved Test Centres

The Department of Consumer Affairs has initiated a process to add more Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) under the Legal Metrology Rules. The centre has invited online applications from eligible industries, laboratories, and testing facilities to be recognised as GATCs.

The application window is currently open, and eligible organisations can submit their applications through the Department's online portal before the deadline of 31 August 2026. The portal provides a digital process for submission of applications, payment of fees, and tracking of application status.

The GATC initiative aims to expand India's verification ecosystem by enabling private sector institutions to participate in the verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures used in trade and commerce. This will lead to faster services and better consumer protection.

As of now, 51 GATCs have already been recognised, and the Department is further expanding the network to provide greater access to verification facilities for businesses. This will reduce turnaround time and facilitate faster compliance.

The initiative will also complement the efforts of State Legal Metrology Departments, allowing them to focus on market surveillance, enforcement, and consumer grievance redressal. With more approved centres available for verification services, the verification capacity will increase, leading to more efficient services.

Recently, the GATC Rules were amended to allow recognised GATCs to undertake verification and re-verification of 23 categories of weights and measures, including water meters, sphygmomanometers, and clinical thermometers. The inclusion of petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG, and hydrogen dispensers is also part of the recent expansion of the GATC framework.

This expansion will help strengthen verification capacity for fuel dispensing systems and support accurate measurement and transparency in fuel transactions. The Department's initiative is an important step towards improving consumer protection and promoting a culture of accuracy and transparency in trade and commerce.

The expansion of GATCs is expected to have a positive impact on businesses and consumers alike, providing them with greater access to verification facilities and faster services. This, in turn, will contribute to the growth of the economy and the development of a more transparent and efficient trade ecosystem.

In conclusion, the Centre's initiative to add more GATCs is a significant step towards improving consumer protection and promoting a culture of accuracy and transparency in trade and commerce. The expansion of the GATC network will provide businesses with greater access to verification facilities, reduce turnaround time, and facilitate faster compliance, ultimately contributing to the growth of the economy.