Ø Department of Consumer Affairs Expands
Scope of Government Approved Test Centre’s (GATC); Verification of CNG, LNG and
Hydrogen Dispensers Enabled
Ø States Empowered to Notify Additional
Categories; New Verification Fees Notified for Fuel Dispensers
Ø Public–Private Partnership for Accurate
and Reliable Measurement
Ø Legal Metrology reforms to strengthen
consumer confidence, clean fuel infrastructure and nationwide verification capacity
·
The
amendment aims to strengthen India’s legal metrology ecosystem and expand
verification infrastructure for weights and measures.
The
following dispensing systems can now be verified and re-verified through
Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs):
1. Petrol/Diesel Dispensers
2. CNG Dispensers
3. LPG Dispensers
4. LNG Dispensers
5. Hydrogen Dispensers
·
With
these additions, GATCs are now authorised to verify a total of 23 categories of
weights and measures.
·
Inclusion
of CNG, LNG and Hydrogen dispensers supports the growing adoption of cleaner
fuels in India.
·
The
move aims to ensure accurate fuel delivery and greater transparency in fuel
transactions.
·
GATCs
are approved facilities equipped with technical expertise and infrastructure
for verification and re-verification under the Legal Metrology framework.
·
Participation
of qualified private laboratories and industries will help improve nationwide
verification capacity and service accessibility.
·
State
Governments can now notify additional categories of weights and measures for
GATC verification based on local requirements.
·
Officers
of Joint Secretary rank and above have been empowered to process approvals and
related matters for faster decision-making.
·
Verification
fee for Petrol and Diesel dispensers fixed at ₹5,000 per nozzle.
·
Verification
fee for CNG, LPG, LNG and Hydrogen dispensers fixed at ₹10,000 per
nozzle.
·
Strengthening
of India’s verification infrastructure.
·
Faster
and more efficient verification services.
·
Reduced
delays in verification processes.
·
State
Legal Metrology Departments can focus more on enforcement, inspections and
consumer grievance redressal.
·
Supports
technology-driven governance, transparency in trade practices and the vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat.
·
Aligns
India’s metrology practices with global standards and recommendations of the
International Organization of Legal Metrology.
·
Water
Meter
·
Sphygmomanometer
·
Clinical
Thermometer
·
Automatic
Rail Weighbridges
·
Tape
Measures
·
Non-Automatic
Weighing Instruments (Class III up to 150 kg)
·
Non-Automatic
Weighing Instruments (Class IIII)
·
Load
Cell
·
Beam
Scale
·
Counter
Machine
·
Weights
(All Categories)
·
Gas
Meter
·
Energy
Meter
·
Moisture
Meter
·
Vehicle
Speed Meter
·
Breath
Analyzer
·
Multi-Dimensional
Measuring Instrument
·
Flow
Meter
·
Petrol/Diesel
Dispenser
·
CNG
Dispenser
·
LPG
Dispenser
·
LNG
Dispenser
·
Hydrogen
Dispenser
<G.S.R. 346(E) dated 8 May, 2026>
[ABS News Service/25.05.2026]
The
Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution,
has amended the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, to
further strengthen India’s legal metrology ecosystem and expand the country’s verification
infrastructure for weights and measures.
Five New Fuel Dispensing
Systems Brought Under GATC Framework
A key feature of the amendment is the
expansion of the scope of Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to include verification
and re-verification of additional fuel dispensing systems. The move is expected
to enhance the availability of verification services, improve efficiency and support
the growng adoption of cleaner fuels across the country.
Under the amended Rules, the following
five categories of dispensing systems have been added to the list of instruments
that can be verified by GATCs:
·
Petrol/Diesel Dispensers
·
CNG Dispensers
·
LPG Dispensers
·
LNG Dispensers
·
Hydrogen Dispensers
With the inclusion of these instruments,
Government Approved Test Centres can now undertake verification and re-verification
of a total of 23 categories of weights and measures under the Legal Metrology
framework.
·
Supporting Clean Fuel Infrastructure
The inclusion of CNG, LNG and Hydrogen
dispensers under the GATC framework comes at a time when the use of cleaner fuels
is increasing across the country. The measure will help ensure accurate fuel delivery
and greater transparency in transactions.
·
Expanding Verification Capacity
Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs)
are approved facilities with the required infrastructure and technical expertise
to undertake verification and re-verification of specified weights and measures
under the Legal Metrology Act and Rules. By involving qualified private laboratories
and industries, the GATC framework helps expand the country's verification capacity
and improve access to verification services.
·
Greater Flexibility and Faster Processing
The amendments empower State Governments
to notify additional categories of weights and measures for verification through
GATCs under their respective Rules. This will help expand verification services
based on local requirements. To improve administrative efficiency, officers of the
rank of Joint Secretary and above have also been authorised to exercise powers under
relevant provisions of the Rules, enabling quicker processing of approvals and related
matters.
·
Verification Fees Notified
Under the amended Rules, the verification
fee for Petrol and Diesel dispensers has been fixed at ₹5,000 per nozzle,
while the fee for CNG, LPG, LNG and Hydrogen dispensers has been fixed at ₹10,000
per nozzle.
Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs)
are already playing an important role in providing timely and reliable verification
services for weighing and measuring instruments across the country. The expanded
scope of GATCs is expected to further strengthen India's verification infrastructure,
improve service delivery and reduce delays.
The reforms will also enable State Legal
Metrology Departments to focus more on inspection, enforcement and consumer grievance
redressal. The initiative supports the Government's vision of technology-driven
governance, transparency in trade practices and Atmanirbhar
Bharat, while strengthening India's metrology system in line with global
best practices and recommendations of the International Organization of Legal Metrology
(OIML).
Categories of Weights and Measures Verifiable
Through GATCs
Existing Categories (18)
1. Water Meter
2. Sphygmomanometer
3. Clinical Thermometer
4. Automatic Rail Weighbridges
5. Tape Measures
6. Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments of
Accuracy Class III (up to 150 kg)
7. Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments of
Accuracy Class IIII
8. Load Cell
9. Beam Scale
10. Counter Machine
11. Weights (All Categories)
12. Gas Meter
13. Energy Meter
14. Moisture Meter
15. Vehicle Speed Meter
16. Breath Analyzer
17. Multi-Dimensional Measuring Instrument
18. Flow Meter
Newly Added Categories (5)
19. Petrol/Diesel Dispenser
20. CNG Dispenser
21. LPG Dispenser
22. LNG Dispenser
23. Hydrogen Dispenser