51 GATCs already recognised | Verification scope expanded to 23 categories

More Verification Capacity • Faster Services • Better Consumer Protection

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has invited online applications from eligible industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities for recognition as Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) under the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013.

With the application window currently open, eligible organisations are encouraged to submit their applications through the Department's online portal emaap.gov.in/gatc before the deadline of 31 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM. The portal provides a completely digital process for submission of applications, payment of fees, tracking of application status and communication with applicants, making the process simpler, transparent and business-friendly.

The Department has earlier provided detailed information on the GATC framework, its expanded scope and the benefits of wider access to verification services.

Expanding verification capacity through wider participation

The GATC initiative is aimed at expanding India's verification ecosystem by enabling technically competent private sector institutions to participate in the verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures used in trade and commerce.

As on date, 51 GATCs have already been recognised. The Department is now further expanding the network so that businesses have greater access to verification facilities closer to their locations, reducing turnaround time and facilitating faster compliance.

The initiative will also complement the efforts of State Legal Metrology Departments. With more approved centres available for verification services, State Legal Metrology Officers can focus more on market surveillance, enforcement and consumer grievance redressal.

23 categories of weights and measures now covered

Following recent amendments to the GATC Rules, recognised GATCs can undertake verification and re-verification of 23 categories of weights and measures covering important sectors such as healthcare, energy, transport, retail, manufacturing and infrastructure. These include:

(i) Water meters

(ii) Sphygmomanometers

(iii) Clinical thermometers

(iv) Automatic rail weighbridges

(v) Tape measures

(vi) Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class III (up to 150 kg)

(vii) Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class IIII

(viii) Load cells

(ix) Beam scales

(x) Counter machines

(xi) Weights of all categories

(xii) Gas meters

(xiii) Energy meters

(xiv) Moisture meters

(xv) Vehicle speed meters

(xvi) Breath analysers

(xvii) Multi-dimensional measuring instruments

(xviii) Flow meters

(xix) Petrol and diesel dispensers

(xx) CNG dispensers

(xxi) LPG dispensers

(xxii) LNG dispensers

(xxiii) Hydrogen dispensers.

The inclusion of petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG and hydrogen dispensers is part of the recent expansion of the GATC framework. This will help strengthen verification capacity for fuel dispensing systems and support accurate measurement and transparency in fuel transactions.

A simpler route for industry

The expansion of GATCs is an important Ease of Doing Business reform. Instead of relying only on limited departmental facilities for verification, manufacturers, traders and users can increasingly access approved technical facilities through the expanding GATC network.

The digital application system further simplifies the process by enabling applicants to apply online, make payments digitally and track their applications without the need for repeated physical visits to Government offices.

Eligible organisations are required to have the prescribed testing and calibration equipment traceable to national standards, qualified technical personnel and the infrastructure specified under the GATC Rules.

Partnership for stronger legal metrology services

The GATC framework represents a partnership approach in Legal Metrology. By bringing technically capable laboratories, industries, educational and testing institutions into the verification ecosystem, the Government is increasing the availability of reliable verification services while maintaining the regulatory oversight prescribed under the Legal Metrology framework.

This approach will help create a larger, more accessible and responsive verification network, benefiting both businesses and consumers.

Faster compliance, reliable measurements and consumer protection

Accurate weights and measures are essential for fair transactions and consumer confidence. A wider network of GATCs will help make verification and re-verification services more accessible and timely, thereby supporting businesses in meeting their regulatory requirements while ensuring that measurements used in commercial transactions remain accurate and reliable.

The reform therefore seeks to achieve a balance between Ease of Doing Business and consumer protection, making compliance easier for honest businesses while strengthening confidence in measurements used in everyday transactions.

The Department's GATC reforms are also aligned with its broader efforts towards digital governance, Atmanirbhar Bharat and strengthening India's quality infrastructure, including alignment with internationally accepted measurement practices.

Applications remain open till 31 August 2026

Eligible organisations interested in becoming Government Approved Test Centres may submit their applications online through emaap.gov.in/gatc.

Application period: 17 August 2026 to 31 August 2026

Last date/time: 31 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM

Detailed eligibility conditions, prescribed requirements and the application process are available on the portal. Eligible organisations are encouraged to complete the application process before the deadline. With 51 GATCs already recognised and the verification scope expanded to 23 categories, the Department is further widening India's measurement verification network to provide industry with easier access to services, faster compliance and consumers with greater confidence in the accuracy of commercial measurements.

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RT/SB/ARC