In a significant move to modernize India's measurement standards ecosystem, the central government has initiated the opening up of legal metrology services to private sector participation. This strategic shift aims to streamline verification processes, reduce bureaucratic delays, and ease compliance burdens for businesses across the nation.
A New Public-Private Partnership Model
The Department of Consumer Affairs has officially awarded 12 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates to 11 private entities. This marks a definitive transition towards a structured public-private partnership (PPP) framework for the critical task of verifying and certifying weights and measures used in trade and commerce. The ministry announced this development in a statement on Monday, aligning it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader vision to encourage private participation in various sectors.
A senior government official explained the rationale behind this policy change. "The objective of bringing in private testing laboratories is to make verification and certification more seamless and time-bound, reduce delays, and expand access to authentic testing," the official stated. "This will allow government labs and legal metrology officers to focus more on enforcement and consumer grievance redressal, while maintaining strict regulatory oversight."
Expanded Scope and Operational Details
The issuance of GATC certificates empowers these private entities to legally verify and certify instruments used in trade, effectively expanding the country's testing capacity beyond the traditional network of government laboratories and state legal metrology departments. Under the revised framework, GATCs are now authorized to verify 18 categories of weighing and measuring instruments.
The list of instruments includes:
- Conventional weighing instruments
- Water meters, energy meters, and gas meters
- Flow meters and vehicle speed meters
- Medical devices like breath analysers, blood pressure meters, and thermometers
Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi presented the certificates on 24 December as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection while simultaneously addressing industry bottlenecks. This policy rollout follows amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, which were notified in October. The amendments expanded the scope of instruments eligible for private verification and formally opened the door for qualified private players.
Ensuring Rigor and Accountability
To maintain the highest standards, the government has instituted a robust oversight mechanism. "There will be no lapses, as all private laboratories will be required to strictly follow the government’s prescribed and stringent testing protocols," assured the official. "Their operations will be subject to regular audits and oversight to ensure uniformity, accuracy and credibility in the testing process." The approvals have been granted for an initial period of one year, with extensions contingent on performance. However, the authorized operational period for the 11 entities is valid until 23 December 2026.
The Approved Entities and Nationwide Reach
The first cohort of approved private GATCs includes a diverse set of firms authorized for specific instrument categories:
- FMI Ltd, Mahavir Jain and Yorker Engineering Pvt. Ltd for testing tape measures.
- V. Brindha and Abhishek Raj for non-automatic weighing instruments (Accuracy Class III up to 150 kg).
- Yadav Measurements Pvt. Ltd for gas and energy meters.
- Paresh Vira, Saurabh Gupta and Pietro Fiorentini DB India Pvt. Ltd for gas meters.
- MeterMatrix Solutions Pvt. Ltd for energy meters.
- Ajay Agrawal for breath analysers.
These entities are geographically spread across Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, significantly widening the national network of authorized testing facilities and improving accessibility for businesses.
Expected Impact and Digital Governance
The Department of Consumer Affairs expects this reform to yield multiple benefits. It is projected to improve access to verification services, cut turnaround times, and lower compliance costs for manufacturers, traders, and service providers. More frequent and decentralized verification of consumer-facing instruments like weighing scales and utility meters is also anticipated to reduce commercial disputes, limit short-measurement risks, and bolster public trust in everyday transactions.
To ensure transparency and efficiency in the new system, the department has launched a dedicated online portal for processing applications from private laboratories and industries seeking GATC status. The first application window closed at the end of November. This digital, time-bound process is designed to minimize discretion, accelerate approvals, and enhance overall service delivery.
It is important to note that existing government facilities, including five regional reference standard laboratories and seven national test house laboratories, will continue to function as deemed GATCs. They will provide a consistent nationwide backbone for legal metrology, ensuring continuity, standardization, and oversight as private test centres integrate into the ecosystem.
