Centre Amends Legal Metrology Rules to Strengthen Accuracy, Transparency and Ease of Doing Business
Image source: IANS
New Delhi, Oct 30 (TheTrendingPeople.com): In a landmark reform to modernize India’s measurement verification ecosystem, the Department of Consumer Affairs on Thursday notified comprehensive amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, expanding the scope of government-approved verification centres and improving transparency, consumer protection, and trade fairness.
The revised framework, which broadens the operational capacity of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs), is designed to align India’s metrology system with international standards and support the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision through indigenous testing and public–private partnerships.
Broader Scope: 18 Categories of Instruments Now Covered
Under the amended rules, GATCs will now cover 18 categories of weighing and measuring instruments, expanding well beyond their previous limits.
The new list includes water meters, energy meters, gas meters, clinical thermometers, sphygmomanometers, moisture meters, flow meters, non-automatic weighing instruments, speed guns, breath analysers, and multi-dimensional measuring instruments — among others.
According to the ministry, this expansion reflects India’s commitment to adapting its verification system to emerging technologies across industries such as healthcare, transport, energy, and infrastructure, where measurement precision is vital for safety and consumer trust.
“The inclusion of new instruments like flow meters, breath analysers and speed guns underscores the government’s focus on evolving industrial and public needs,” said the official statement.
Boosting Verification Capacity and Reducing Delays
The amendments aim to increase verification capacity by allowing both private laboratories and industry players to operate as Government Approved Test Centres alongside government facilities.
This public–private model is expected to reduce waiting times for verification, improve accessibility, and ensure faster turnaround for industries that rely heavily on accurate measurement systems.
The participation of private entities, the government noted, will act as a “force multiplier” for State Legal Metrology Departments, allowing them to focus more on enforcement, inspection, and grievance redressal instead of routine verification tasks.
Empowering States and Expanding National Network
The revised rules officially recognize Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) and National Test House (NTH) facilities as deemed GATCs, effectively creating a nationwide network for the verification of consumer-facing instruments.
This decentralized structure is designed to ensure that regular and localized verification—of weighing scales, water meters, and energy meters—occurs consistently across all states and districts.
“By expanding the verification ecosystem, we are not only strengthening consumer rights but also ensuring that trade across the country is governed by fairness, transparency, and accountability,” said Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi.
Pralhad Joshi: “A Technology-Driven Step Toward Fair Trade”
Highlighting the significance of the amendments, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi described the reform as a major leap toward modernizing India’s legal metrology infrastructure.
“The amendment to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules is a major step towards modernizing India’s legal metrology ecosystem. It empowers industry participation, ensures accurate measurements for consumers, and strengthens the hands of our enforcement officers,” Joshi said.
“With this reform, India is building a transparent, technology-driven, and self-reliant system of measurement verification that enhances fairness in trade and protects consumer rights,” he added.
Ease of Doing Business: Streamlined Processes and Digital Payment Options
In line with the government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative, the amendments introduce several key administrative reforms to simplify the GATC recognition and compliance process.
Application Process Simplified:- Applicants can now submit recognition requests directly to the Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, through a prescribed digital format.
- The rules now define minimum technical requirements, staff qualifications, and inspection protocols, ensuring consistent quality across all approved centres.
- A newly added Fifth Schedule harmonizes verification fees across categories, and payments can now be made digitally, reducing procedural delays and increasing transparency.
Officials said these changes are designed to reduce compliance burdens on industries and laboratories, promoting faster service delivery and greater stakeholder confidence in India’s verification system.
Strengthening Consumer Protection and Accuracy
Accurate and verified measuring instruments are fundamental to consumer trust in daily transactions—from retail goods to electricity billing and medical diagnostics.
The new rules are expected to:
- Reduce risks of inaccurate measurements in trade and essential services.
- Ensure consumers receive full value for their purchases and utility usage.
- Encourage fair competition by maintaining standardized testing criteria for all businesses.
By decentralizing verification and improving frequency, the reforms will help prevent measurement fraud, strengthen transparency in pricing, and ensure accountability across both public and private sectors.
Global Recognition: India Now an OIML Certification Authority
In a significant move toward international harmonization, India has now been designated as an OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) Certification Authority.
This status enables Indian laboratories to issue globally accepted OIML certificates, allowing domestic manufacturers to obtain international certifications within India instead of relying on foreign agencies.
The change will help Indian manufacturers save costs, shorten approval timelines, and enhance global competitiveness in the production of precision instruments.
“As an OIML Certification Authority, India can now issue internationally recognized certifications domestically. This will save manufacturers time and money while reinforcing India’s position as a global hub for precision instruments,” the Department’s statement added.
Background: What Are GATCs and Why They Matter
Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) are authorized entities—either public or private—that verify and calibrate weighing and measuring instruments to ensure accuracy as per legal metrology standards.
Under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, periodic verification and stamping of measuring devices are mandatory to ensure that instruments used in trade, commerce, and healthcare deliver correct and reliable measurements.
The GATCs work in close coordination with State Legal Metrology Departments, which oversee enforcement, inspection, and consumer grievance handling.
The 2013 Rules, prior to this amendment, limited the number and types of instruments that could be verified by these centres, creating backlogs and delays—especially for industries dependent on calibrated devices.
Impact Analysis: Toward a Transparent and Self-Reliant Verification System
Experts have welcomed the amendments, noting that the public–private model and digitization drive will significantly boost efficiency.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Head of Standards at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), commented,
“This reform marks a paradigm shift. It ensures that India’s metrology ecosystem not only meets domestic needs but also positions itself as a competitive player in the global precision measurement market.”
By ensuring wider coverage, digital integration, and international certification, the revised framework is expected to create new business opportunities, attract investments in calibration services, and enhance consumer confidence.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The latest amendments to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013 signal India’s firm step toward a digitally empowered, transparent, and globally recognized metrology framework.
By expanding verification categories, involving private players, and adopting global standards, the reform not only ensures accuracy in measurement and fairness in trade but also strengthens India’s industrial competitiveness.
As the country continues to push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and ease of doing business, these rules reflect a clear policy direction—building a self-reliant, technology-driven, and consumer-centric economy grounded in trust, precision, and accountability.