The Department of Consumer Affairs 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.

Applications will be accepted through the official EMAAP portal from August 17 to August 31, 2026. The online platform offers a fully digital application process, including submission, fee payment, application tracking and communication with applicants.

The initiative aims to expand India's verification ecosystem for weights and measuring instruments by increasing the participation of technically qualified private institutions. A larger network of GATCs is expected to improve verification capacity, reduce turnaround time, strengthen compliance for industries and ensure accurate measurements for consumers.

Following recent amendments to the GATC Rules, approved centres will be authorised to verify 23 categories of weighing and measuring instruments, including water meters, energy meters, petrol and diesel dispensers, CNG, LPG and LNG dispensers, hydrogen dispensers, gas meters, blood pressure monitors, clinical thermometers, vehicle speed meters and weighing instruments.

Eligible applicants must possess the prescribed testing and calibration equipment, qualified technical personnel with expertise in legal metrology and the required infrastructure under the rules.

The government said the expanded GATC network will complement State Legal Metrology Departments by enhancing verification capacity, allowing state authorities to focus more on market surveillance, enforcement and consumer grievance redressal, while supporting the objectives of Ease of Doing Business, Digital Governance, Atmanirbhar Bharat and consumer protection.