New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said India has become the 13th country in the world authorised to issue OIML pattern approval certificates, a move that will strengthen the country’s global standing and support exports of weighing and measuring instruments.

The minister made the announcement while addressing the World Metrology Day 2026 celebrations organised by the Department of Consumer Affairs to commemorate the 151st anniversary of the historic Metre Convention signed in Paris on May 20, 1875.

Speaking virtually at the event, Joshi highlighted the growing importance of metrology in policymaking, consumer protection, trade and industrial growth.

Referring to this year’s theme, “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”, he said reliable and accurate measurements form the foundation of transparent governance and scientific credibility.

“The Department has strengthened India’s legal metrology verification infrastructure by issuing 40 Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) certificates to eligible private entities, marking a significant step towards expanding the country’s verification capacity,” Joshi stated.

The minister said the recognition from the International Organisation of Legal Metrology would enhance India’s global competitiveness in the manufacturing of weighing and measuring instruments and further strengthen the “Make in India” initiative.

“The e-Maap portal has been launched as a unified digital platform for registration and enforcement-related services under Legal Metrology,” the minister stated.

“The portal will facilitate services such as verification of weights and measures, registrations, model approvals and enforcement-related activities at both Centre and State levels,” Joshi added.

He also highlighted several reforms undertaken by the department to modernise India’s legal metrology ecosystem.

“The One Nation, One Time initiative aims to disseminate Indian Standard Time (IST) across the country with high precision through RRSLs,” the minister mentioned.

The minister said the government has decriminalised minor offences under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, introduced improvement notices for minor violations and shifted from a licensing-based regime to a registration-based system to improve ease of doing business.

Highlighting technological advancements in the sector, the minister said software testing facilities for weighing and measuring instruments have been established at Regional Reference Standard Laboratories in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing to improve domestic manufacturing capabilities.

–IANS

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