Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Government Expands Approved Test Centres Under Legal Metrology Rules
The government wants more places to check measuring equipment used by businesses.
These places are called Government Approved Test Centres, or GATCs.
Industries, laboratories and technical institutes can apply to become approved centres.
Applications are submitted online and must arrive by 31 August 2026.
There are already 51 approved centres.
More centres could help businesses get equipment checked closer to where they operate.
This may also help government officers focus on inspections and consumer complaints.
The centres can check equipment such as water meters, weighing machines and fuel dispensers.
Applicants must have suitable equipment, trained staff and required facilities.
The Department of Consumer Affairs invited applications to recognise additional Government Approved Test Centres.
Eligible applicants include industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities.
Applications must be submitted online at emaap.gov.in/gatc by 31 August 2026, 5:00 PM.
The network currently has 51 recognised centres and will support faster verification and compliance.
Recent rule changes allow centres to verify 23 categories of weights and measures, including fuel dispensers.
- Who
- The Department of Consumer Affairs is inviting eligible industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities to apply.
- What
- The government is expanding recognition of Government Approved Test Centres under the Legal Metrology Rules.
- When
- Applications are open until 31 August 2026 at 5:00 PM; the announcement was made on Thursday.
- Where
- Applications must be submitted through the online portal emaap.gov.in/gatc in India.
- Why
- The expansion is intended to increase verification capacity, improve consumer protection, reduce business turnaround times and support enforcement by State Legal Metrology Departments.
- Current recognised GATCs
- 51
- Application deadline
- 31 August 2026, 5:00 PM
- Application method
- Online submission through emaap.gov.in/gatc
- Eligible applicants
- Industries, laboratories, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and testing facilities
- Verification scope
- 23 categories of weights and measures
- Examples of equipment
- Water meters, weighing instruments, gas meters, energy meters, breath analysers and flow meters
- Fuel dispensers covered
- Petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG and hydrogen dispensers