Rule 5 of the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013: who may apply for recognition as a test centre, the Second Schedule application, the conditions, the approving authority, validity, appeal and deemed test centres

Government Approved Test Centre 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.

Rule 5 is the core of the Test Centre Rules. It says who applies for recognition, what the Director considers, who approves, for how long, who can reject, where an appeal lies, and which laboratories are treated as test centres without applying. It has been amended in 2016, 2021, 2025 and 2026.

These rules are as amended up to the Government Approved Test Centre Second Amendment Rules, 2026 (17 June 2026); later amendments should be checked on the Department of Consumer Affairs website. If you are preparing an application, a legal consultation can help you check it against rule 5 before it is filed.

Anyone who wants to verify weights or measures specified in the rules applies to the Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs (rule 5(1), 2025), in the Second Schedule form, through the Principal Officer. The Director inspects and recommends; an officer equivalent to or above the level of Joint Secretary approves (rule 5(4), 2026); the Director rejects an application that does not meet the eligibility conditions (rule 5(7)); an appeal lies to the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs (rule 5(8), 2016). Do not mix up these four authorities.

Rule 5(1) and (2): the application

Rule 5(1), as substituted in 2025. Any person who wants recognition under the rules for carrying out verification of the weights or measures specified in them submits an application to the Joint Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, in the form specified in the Second Schedule. Before 2025 the application went to the Director, Legal Metrology.

Rule 5(2). The application is made only by the Principal Officer.

The Second Schedule form

The Second Schedule form was substituted in 2016 and has ten particulars:

1. full name and complete address of the applicant;
2. name of the weight or measure for which approval is sought;
3. experience in the relevant field;
4. details of the organisational structure;
5. qualification of the Principal Officer and other technical staff;
6. details of the standards and other testing facilities available;
7. a copy of the quality management system of the laboratory, if available;
8. details of the demand draft;
9. the jurisdiction or area for which the application is made; and
10. the consumer complaint number.

A note says that every application is in triplicate, accompanied by complete documents and terms and conditions. The note's fee wording was changed in 2025 to "Rs. two lakh for one equipment per year", and the demand draft is drawn in favour of the Pay and Accounts Officer, Department of Consumer Affairs, payable at New Delhi. The fee rule itself (rule 18) is in our article on rules 13 to 20.

Rule 5(3) and (3A): what the Director considers

While recommending a centre for approval, the Director considers:

• (a) availability and accessibility of land and building;
• (b) adequacy of measuring equipment, testing facilities and other infrastructure;
• (c) availability of technically qualified manpower;
• (d) capacity for efficient and timely service to customers;
• (e) the centre shall get its equipment periodically verified by a secondary standard laboratory or any other agency the Director determines (2016: "willingness to get" became "shall get");
• (f) the employees shall be trained in institutions nominated by the Director (2016);
• (g) any other factor which in the Director's opinion will affect proper functioning;
• (h) conditions to set up (substituted in 2016, see below);
• (i) qualifications: those of the Principal Officer or any employee shall be equivalent to the qualification for a Legal Metrology Officer in the General Rules (see our post on rule 28 of the General Rules); and
• (j) experience: the Principal Officer or any of the employees shall have working experience of at least three years in the field of legal metrology.

The conditions to set up (rule 5(3)(h), 2016)

1. A non-standard weight or measure shall not be verified by the centre.
2. The centre verifies weights and measures submitted with the requisite verification fee and an application stating (A) the name and full address of the manufacturer, importer, dealer or user, (B) the location of the factory or premises where the item is made, imported or intended to be used, and (C) the maximum and minimum capacity, "e" or "d" value and accuracy class.
3. After verification the centre issues the certificate of verification.
4. The certificate of verification stays valid for the period specified in the General Rules and is renewed on payment of the prescribed fee.
5. At the end of each calendar year the centre sends the Central Government a statement of the number of weights and measures verified.

Inspection before recommendation (rule 5(3A), 2025)

Before any recommendation, the Director or officers authorised by him and, as required, the legal metrology officers of the State Government concerned, inspect the premises of the test centre, including the specification of its area of operation.

Rule 5(4) to (8): who decides

The 2013 text of rule 5(8) said the Secretary's decision "shall be final"; those words were removed when the sub-rule was substituted in 2016.

Validity: rule 5(5) as printed

Rule 5(5) says the competent authority grants approval under sub-rule (4) for one year, and thereafter the approval shall be renewed for a period not exceeding five years at a time. Rule 17 separately speaks of renewal for a period not exceeding five years at a time by the Director, and rule 18(3), as substituted in 2026, speaks of the renewal fee for a period of one year for each equipment. Each is stated here as printed; the rules do not say how they fit together. Check the terms of your own certificate and the Department's current instructions.

Rule 5(9) to (15): after approval

• Suspension (5(9)). The Director may suspend for non-compliance with the terms and conditions in the rules, after an opportunity of showing cause; the suspension is revoked on compliance.
• Visits (5(10)). The Director or an authorised officer may visit; the Principal Officer permits inspection and gives all assistance, including production of records.
• Quarterly report (5(11)). The Principal Officer reports each quarter on the weights and measures verified, the fee collected, the time taken for each testing and other information required.
• Procedure (5(12)). Verification follows the procedure in the General Rules.
• Cancellation (5(13)). The Director may cancel if the centre cannot reasonably be expected to function properly, after giving an opportunity of being heard.
• Information to the State (5(14)). The Director ensures the State's Controller of Legal Metrology is informed at once of any grant, suspension or cancellation.
• Insurance (5(15)). The competent authority may require third party liability insurance sufficient to cover any claim for damage due to lapses or violation of government instructions.

Rule 5(16) to (18): deemed test centres

• Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (5(16), 2025). All of them functioning under the administrative control of the Department of Consumer Affairs are deemed test centres and the rules apply to them; they may verify the weights and measures under the General Rules or as per the recommendations of the International Organization of Legal Metrology at any location within India.
• NABL or ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratories (5(17), 2021). Accredited laboratories for calibration of weights and measures that conform to the conditions in rule 5(3) are eligible to be notified as test centres, subject to compliance with the Act and the rules.
• National Test House laboratories (5(18), 2025). Those under the administrative control of the Department are deemed test centres, with the same power to verify at any location in India.

Steps for an applicant

1. Choose the kinds of weights and measures (from the 23 in the First Schedule and any prescribed by a State).
2. Check qualifications and three years' experience under rule 5(3)(i) and (j).
3. Fill in the ten particulars of the Second Schedule, in triplicate with documents.
4. Pay the fee under rule 18 and give the demand draft details.
5. Allow inspection of the premises and area of operation.
6. On approval, take the code number and plan the quarterly reports.

A practical example

Sahyadri Metrology Labs applies for approval to verify water meters and gas meters. Its Principal Officer signs the Second Schedule application. The Director's inspection under rule 5(3A) finds the premises suitable but limits the area of operation. The approving officer, at or above Joint Secretary level, approves on the Director's recommendation. Had the Director rejected the application under rule 5(7) for a missing eligibility condition, Sahyadri could have appealed to the Secretary under rule 5(8).

Common lapses

• Addressing the application to the Director rather than the Joint Secretary after 2025.
• Missing the three-year experience or Legal Metrology Officer qualification.
• Overlooking the quarterly report and the year-end statement.
• Confusing who approves, who rejects and who hears the appeal.

For the Act's provision see section 24.

Need help with a test centre application?

A well-prepared application saves time at inspection. Our team can review your Second Schedule particulars with you; start with a legal consultation.

Key takeaways

• The application goes to the Joint Secretary, in the Second Schedule form, made only by the Principal Officer.
• The Director inspects the premises and recommends; an officer at or above Joint Secretary level approves.
• The Director rejects if eligibility conditions are not met; the appeal is to the Secretary.
• Qualification of a Legal Metrology Officer and at least three years' experience are required.
• Rule 5(5) says one year, then renewal for not more than five years at a time.
• Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and National Test House laboratories are deemed centres.

Read next

• Rules 1–4: what a test centre is and what it may verify
• Rules 13–20: certificate, renewal, application fee, suspension, revocation and compounding
• Section 24 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009

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.