A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between National Test House (NTH), Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, here today aimed at strengthening the Standards & Labelling (S&L) Program, a crucial initiative designed to promote energy efficiency across the country. The MoU was signed in the presence of Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India and Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power.

Some of the salient features of the MoU are: 

· BEE shall recognise NTH as referral laboratory and send its cases pertaining to technical disputes regarding the test results for consultation.

· BEE shall nominate Officers of NTH in their various Technical Committees in consideration of expertise with NTH Officers.

· NTH shall conduct Capacity Building Training to BEE Officers at the NTH Regional Laboratories / BEE Head Quarters at Delhi.

· Complete Review of existing S & L Programme of BEE including Check Testing Procedures.

· Any other Technical matter pertaining to S & L Scheme with mutual consent.

While speaking on the occasion, Smt. Khare Secretary, DoCA said, “Product should be designed not to fail but to last. To facilitate consumers and to ensure their rights, this MoU will prove as a stepping stone towards an everlasting relationship between NTH and BEE.”

Shri Agarwal, Secretary Ministry of Power said Star Ratings of electrical appliances and products are provided by BEE. “We need to check whether an industry that has taken the star ratings from us is consistently delivering on the parameters. To ensure this, we have joined hands with Department of Consumer Affairs for market surveillance and for dependable testing”, he said.

It may be pertinent to mention that the MoU between the Departments of Government of India National Test House (a Premier Scientific & Testing Agency) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (through its S&L Programme) will certainly help in the sustainable development of the country in respect of Conservation of Energy by saving electricity also thus reducing the carbon footprints. This will be a large leap in making of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The MoU was signed by Shri Milind Deore, Secretary, BEE and Shri Alok Kumar Srivastava, DG, NTH.

NTH, a premier institution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has been serving the nation since 1912. As India’s largest multidisciplinary testing laboratory under the Central Government, NTH offers technical consultancy, testing, calibration, and quality evaluation across various sectors, adhering to both national and international standards.

BEE was established in 2002 with the mission to reduce the energy intensity of the Indian economy. BEE’s role in developing policies and strategies for energy conservation has been instrumental in promoting sustainable development.

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AD/NS