Rules 13 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The last eight rules deal with what a centre's certificate says, how its mark is made up, how the approval can be revoked or suspended, how it is renewed, what the application and renewal fees are, who pays for inspections, and the sums at which offences can be compounded. Rule 18 was substituted in 2025 and rule 18(3) again in June 2026.
These rules are as amended up to the Government Approved Test Centre Second Amendment Rules, 2026 (17 June 2026); later amendments and current fees should be checked on the Department of Consumer Affairs website. If your centre faces a show-cause notice or a renewal, legal dispute resolution support can help you prepare.
The application fee is rupees two lakh per weight or measure (rule 18(1), 2025), payable by demand draft, online payment or as the Government specifies. At renewal, rule 18(3), as substituted on 17 June 2026, requires rupees ten thousand for a period of one year in respect of each equipment. A centre's approval can be revoked by the Central Government and suspended by the Director, each after an opportunity of showing cause. Offences can be compounded at rupees fifty thousand for the first offence and rupees seventy five thousand for every subsequent contravention (rule 20). The penalty itself is in section 37 of the Act.
Rule 13: contents of the certificate
Every certificate of approval contains:
- (a) the number of the certificate;
- (b) the name of the weight and measure for which the centre has been approved;
- (c) the mark or code assigned to the centre;
- (d) a brief statement about the centre;
- (e) the special conditions, if any;
- (f) the period for which the centre is approved;
- (g) the range for verification of the weight or measure; and
- (h) a contact number for consumer redressal.
Where a weight or measure is intended for a special use, the certificate indicates it (rule 13(2)). The Director causes the certificate to be published in the Official Gazette (rule 13(3)) and may also publish the information in the journal, if any, published by the Central Government (rule 13(4)).
The Fourth Schedule certificate
The Fourth Schedule form is headed Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology Division, "Certificate of Approval of Government Approved Test Centre", under section 24 of the Act. It certifies that a named firm has been approved as a test centre for a place or district to verify the listed weights and measures with their ranges. It carries a certificate number, a "valid up to" date, the signature of the Director of Legal Metrology, a copy to the State's Controller of Legal Metrology, and a note on whom to contact in case of a consumer complaint.
Rule 14: the mark
The mark assigned to the centre contains the national identification letters IND, the last two digits of the year of issue and the code number assigned to the centre. The verification mark a centre stamps on instruments is a different thing, covered in our article on rules 6 to 12.
Rule 15: revocation
- Grounds (15(1)). The Central Government, satisfied on the Director's recommendation, may revoke the certificate where the centre no longer complies with the provisions in the rules made under the Act, or specifically violates the Director's directions. The proviso: not unless the holder has been given an opportunity of showing cause.
- Effect (15(2)). Verification stops immediately. Where it is found that verification of any weight or measure was conducted afterwards, the Director may by order prohibit the use of that weight or measure and initiate other appropriate penal action.
- Notification (15(3)). Every order of revocation or suspension is duly notified.
Rule 16: suspension
The Director may suspend a certificate if the holder fails (i) to verify the weights or measures in accordance with the certificate, (ii) in verification not conforming to the rules or standards, or (iii) in complying with the conditions in the certificate, after an opportunity of showing cause (16(1)). Under rule 16(2), the suspension is not vacated until the omission or failure has been complied with and the sum for compounding the offence has been deposited to the Government in the same form as prescribed for applying for approval.
Validity and renewal: the rules as printed
- Rule 5(5): approval for one year, thereafter renewed for a period not exceeding five years at a time.
- Rule 17: the approval may be renewed for a period not exceeding five years at a time by the Director (Legal Metrology), subject to the satisfactory functioning of the centre.
- Rule 18(3), as substituted on 17 June 2026: a fee of rupees ten thousand shall be payable at the time of renewal of recognition for a period of one year in respect of each equipment.
These are stated as the rules print them; the rules do not say how they fit together, so check the period written in your certificate and any later amendment. For rule 5 see our article on applying for recognition.
Rule 18: fees
| Fee | Rule | Amount as printed | Year of the rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application for approval | 18(1) | Rupees two lakh per weight or measure | 2025 |
| Mode of payment | 18(2) | Demand draft, online payment mode, or as specified by the Government | 2025 |
| Renewal of recognition | 18(3) | Rupees ten thousand for a period of one year in respect of each equipment | June 2026 (the 2025 text had required the same amount as the application fee) |
| Second Schedule note | Second Schedule | "Rs. two lakh for one equipment per year" | 2025 |
In 2013 the application fee was rupees ten thousand by demand draft, also payable at renewal and on adding a weight or measure to the certificate; that is history. No total is given in the rules.
Rule 18(3) as first substituted in 2025 required the "same amount of fee" at renewal; the June 2026 substitution replaced it with the rupees ten thousand figure above.
Rule 19: expenses of assessment and inspection
All expenses, including transportation and accommodation as per the entitlement of the officer or officers, and the cost of providing facility and co-operation for the assessment, re-assessment or compulsory yearly inspection of the centre during the calendar year, are borne by the applicant.
Rule 20: compounding
Where a centre has contravened the provisions in sub-section (1) of section 48 of the Act, the offence may be compounded by a sum of rupees fifty thousand for the first offence and rupees seventy five thousand for every subsequent contravention. This is the only sum the rules print for compounding. The Act's compounding provision is in our post on section 48, and the penalty for a contravention by a test centre is in section 37; no penalty amount is given here because those sections have been changed by later legislation.
Steps at a glance
- Pay the application fee in the permitted mode and file under rule 5.
- Receive the certificate with the contents in rule 13.
- Use the mark under rule 14.
- File for renewal and pay the rule 18(3) fee.
- If suspended, cure the default and deposit the compounding sum before the suspension is vacated.
- Meet inspection expenses under rule 19.
A practical example
Delta Verification Services holds approval for water meters and sphygmomanometers, two kinds of weights or measures. When it applied, each kind carried the rule 18(1) fee. At renewal it pays the rule 18(3) fee for each equipment for a period of one year. A State officer finds it verified gas meters without having them in its certificate; the Director suspends the approval after a show-cause. Under rule 16(2), Delta cures the default and deposits the compounding sum before the suspension can be vacated.
Common lapses
- Paying the 2013 application fee figure rather than the substituted one.
- Counting fees per centre instead of per weight or measure or per equipment, as the rules print.
- Verifying items not named in the certificate.
- Not budgeting for inspection expenses under rule 19.
Need help with renewal, suspension or compounding?
If your centre has a show-cause notice, a suspension or a renewal coming up, we can help you plan the reply and the paperwork. Start with legal dispute resolution.
Key takeaways
- The application fee is rupees two lakh per weight or measure (2025).
- The renewal fee under rule 18(3) is rupees ten thousand for a period of one year in respect of each equipment (June 2026).
- Rule 5(5), rule 17 and rule 18(3) each speak of renewal or validity in their own words.
- Revocation is by the Central Government, suspension by the Director, both after a show-cause opportunity.
- The compounding sums in rule 20 are rupees fifty thousand and rupees seventy five thousand.
- The penalty is in section 37 of the Act.
Read next
- Rule 5: how to apply for recognition as a test centre
- Rule 7 and the Fifth Schedule: verification fees payable to a test centre
- Section 48 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: compounding of offences
- Section 37 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: penalty for test centre contravention
Disclaimer: Based on the Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011 (as amended in 2019), the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013 (as amended up to 17 June 2026), the Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011 (as amended in 2019), the Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011 and the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011, as published in the Gazette of India and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, current fees and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provisions referred to should be checked on the Department of Consumer Affairs website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.