In a major stride toward strengthening India’s legal metrology ecosystem, the Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has launched an online portal inviting applications from private industries, laboratories, and testing facilities for recognition as Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs).
Applications can be submitted online through the official portal until 30 November 2025 at https://doca.gov.in/gatc. This initiative marks a significant step in expanding India’s verification infrastructure for weights and measures, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and fairness in trade.
Empowering Private Participation Under Legal Metrology Rules
This digital initiative has been introduced under the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, recently amended on 23 October 2025. The amendment empowers private sector participation, allowing qualified industries and laboratories with appropriate testing facilities to play an active role in verifying weighing and measuring instruments used for transactions and consumer protection.
The reform promotes a public–private partnership model, aimed at boosting verification capacity, reducing waiting time, and enhancing the quality and reach of verification services across India. This aligns with the Government’s vision of building a more efficient and technology-enabled regulatory framework for trade and consumer affairs.
Streamlined Digital Application Process
Organizations equipped with testing equipment, calibration facilities, and qualified technical staff are encouraged to apply for GATC recognition through the newly launched online system. The portal ensures end-to-end transparency, enabling applicants to submit forms, pay fees, and track their application status digitally for faster approvals.
Before approval, Department officials and State Legal Metrology officers will inspect applicants’ premises to assess their infrastructure, staff competence, and calibration systems. As per the Legal Metrology (GATC) Amendment Rules, 2025, an online fee of ₹2 lakh per instrument category is applicable, both for new applications and annual renewals.
Scope and Coverage of Verification
Recognized GATCs will be authorized to verify 18 types of weighing and measuring instruments, including:
- Water meters, sphygmomanometers, and clinical thermometers
- Automatic rail weighbridges and tape measures
- Non-automatic weighing instruments, load cells, and beam scales
- Weights of all categories, gas meters, and energy meters
- Flow meters, moisture meters, speed meters, and breath analyzers
These instruments are vital across sectors such as healthcare, infrastructure, transport, and energy, where measurement precision directly impacts safety, consumer trust, and economic efficiency.
Standardized verification fees, as listed in the newly introduced Fifth Schedule, will ensure uniformity nationwide — for example, ₹250 for domestic water meters, ₹1,000 for commercial water meters, and ₹3,000 for non-automatic weighing instruments up to 150 kg. Where an item is not listed, the State Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules will apply.
Towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and Global Standards
The expanded GATC network will decentralize verification activities, making services more accessible to manufacturers, traders, and users while allowing State Departments to focus on inspection, enforcement, and grievance redressal.
This reform strengthens India’s commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat by fostering domestic testing capabilities and leveraging private sector expertise. Moreover, by aligning with OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) standards, India can now issue internationally accepted certificates, helping Indian manufacturers gain global recognition without relying on foreign testing agencies.
The launch of the GATC online portal represents another milestone under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative — celebrating self-reliance, innovation, and progress. By expanding verification infrastructure and embracing digital transformation, the Department of Consumer Affairs continues to protect consumer interests, promote fairness in trade, and reinforce trust in India’s measurement systems.
Apply now at: https://doca.gov.in/gatc