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Government approved test centre: can it verify your shop scale?
A government approved test centre (GATC) may verify your shop scale if it is a non-automatic weighing instrument of Class III up to 150 kg, or of Class IIII [3]. An individually approved centre must be notified for that category, hold a valid approval, and test at its premises or within its own state [1, 11]. The deemed laboratories of the Department of Consumer Affairs may verify anywhere in India [11].
On 13 October 2026 the Department of Consumer Affairs notified 51 test centre entries in S.O. 5620(E), under section 24(3) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Corpseed reported on 19 October 2026 from a copy of the gazette [1, 2]. Of the 51 entries, 20 cover non-automatic weighing instruments of Class III up to 150 kg, one covers Class IIII, four cover weights (one of them only weights up to 20 kg) and one covers automatic rail weighbridges [1]. The other 25 cover meters and other measures [1, 2].
What is a government approved test centre?
The Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013 define a government approved test centre as “a person who has been approved by the Central Government to undertake verification of weight or measure specified in these rules” [12]. Those weights and measures are listed in the First Schedule [3]. Since the amendment of October 2025, the instruments on that Schedule may be verified either by such a centre or by the Legal Metrology officers [6, 7, 11]. The Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and the National Test House laboratories of the Department of Consumer Affairs are deemed to be approved centres, and they verify the weights and measures of the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 at any location within India [5, 11]. An individually approved centre may verify instruments within its district and across its state [5, 11].
Which weighing instruments are on the GATC list?
The First Schedule, in the amendment dated 8 May 2026, lists 23 categories [3, 4]. Seven of them concern weighing instruments, weights or load cells [3]:
| Item | Category, as the First Schedule words it |
|---|---|
| 4 | Automatic rail weighbridges |
| 6 | Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class III (upto 150kg) |
| 7 | Non-automatic weighing instruments of Accuracy Class IIII |
| 8 | Load cell |
| 9 | Beam scale |
| 10 | Counter machine |
| 11 | Weights of all category |
Clause (ii) of the same Schedule adds any other weight or measure that the State Government prescribes, so your state’s own GATC rules can widen the list [3, 4]. A Class III platform scale of 250 kg or 300 kg sits outside item 6 because of the 150 kg limit [3]. Unless your state has added it, an individually approved centre cannot take it, and it goes to the Legal Metrology officer or a deemed laboratory [3, 11].
How do you check that a test centre may verify your scale?
- Find your scale’s maximum capacity and accuracy class from its data plate or the seller.
- Match them to the First Schedule. Class III up to 150 kg is item 6, and Class IIII is item 7 [3].
- For an individually approved centre, open S.O. 5620(E), or a later notification, and find an entry whose column (4) names that category. Column (5) gives the state where the centre is located, and it tests at its premises or within that state, so plan where the scale will be tested [1, 11].
- Read column (6). S.O. 5620(E) listed validity dates from 23 December 2026 to 28 June 2027, and 12 entries carried 23 December 2026 [1, 2]. Corpseed noted that a later renewal or amendment may change an approval’s status, so look for a newer notification [2].
- Ask to see the centre’s approval certificate, whose number in column (2) starts with IND/GATC/, and the area it is approved to work in [1, 11]. The Director of Legal Metrology can suspend or cancel an approval, so check that it is still in force [12].
- If no entry fits your scale and the place of testing, book the verification with your state’s Legal Metrology office, or ask a deemed laboratory such as a Regional Reference Standard Laboratory [11].
Does a 150 kg platform scale count?
Item 6 reads “upto 150kg”, so a Class III scale of 150 kg is inside the limit and a 250 kg scale is not [3]. Item 7, for Class IIII, carries no capacity limit [3]. Across the three HSCo models below, seven of the nine capacity options are 150 kg or less [8, 9, 10].
Which HSCo shop scales come in capacities of 150 kg or less?
Each of these Hindustan Scale Company (HSCo) scales is Legal Metrology stamped [8, 9, 10]. Capacity alone does not settle item 6, because the scale must also be Class III, so ask us for your model’s accuracy class before you book a test centre [3].
SSBP Table Top Scale with Pole Display – 10, 30, 50 kg, Stainless: 10, 30 or 50 kg, reading in 1, 2 or 5 g steps, with a pole display that faces the customer and a rechargeable battery for power cuts. For grocery counters and sweet marts [8].- PLCHQS Electronic Platform Scale – 50 to 300 kg, Chequered Plate, Double Display: 50, 100, 150, 250 or 300 kg on an MS chequered plate, with a double-sided display. The 50, 100 and 150 kg models sit inside the 150 kg limit of item 6; the 250 and 300 kg models do not [10].
Our post on government stamping explains the stamp itself, and scale model approval covers the approval a model needs before sale. Larger platform scales are on our warehouse and shipping scales page. To choose a stamped scale for your counter, call +91-7045922250 or write to hsc@hindustanscale.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can a government approved test centre verify a scale instead of the Legal Metrology officer?
Yes, for the instruments on the First Schedule. Since October 2025, the GATC Rules, 2013 say these weights and measures shall be verified either by a government approved test centre or by the Legal Metrology officers [6, 7, 11]. A Class III scale up to 150 kg is item 6. An individually approved centre tests at its premises or within its own state; the deemed Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and National Test House laboratories may verify anywhere in India [3, 11].
What validity dates did S.O. 5620(E) list for GATC approvals?
Each GATC entry in S.O. 5620(E) of 13 October 2026 carries a validity date in column (6) [1]. The notification listed dates from 23 December 2026 to 28 June 2027, and 12 of the 51 entries carried 23 December 2026 [1, 2]. A later renewal, amendment, suspension or cancellation can change an approval’s status, so check the newest notification and the centre’s certificate before you book [2, 12].
How many categories can a government approved test centre verify?
A government approved test centre can be approved for any of the 23 categories in the First Schedule [3, 4]. Seven concern weighing, among them Class III weighing instruments up to 150 kg, Class IIII, load cells, beam scales and weights [3]. A State Government may prescribe more [3, 4]. The deemed Regional Reference Standard Laboratories and National Test House laboratories verify the weights and measures of the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 anywhere in India [11].
Sources
- Department of Consumer Affairs (Gazette of India), “S.O. 5620(E): Government approved Test Centres notified under section 24(3) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009” (consumeraffairs.gov.in, 13 October 2026). Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II Section 3(ii), No. 5406, 13 October 2026; e-Gazette ID CG-DL-E-15102026-277159, uploaded 15 October 2026; F. No. I-30/13/2026-W&M Section
- Corpseed, “Legal Metrology notification 2026: 51 test centre approvals across India” (corpseed.com, 19 October 2026).
- Department of Consumer Affairs (Gazette of India), “G.S.R. 346(E): Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Amendment Rules, 2026” (consumeraffairs.gov.in, 8 May 2026).
- Press Information Bureau, “Department of Consumer Affairs Expands Scope of Government Approved Test Centre’s (GATC); Verification of CNG, LNG and Hydrogen Dispensers Enabled” (pib.gov.in, 24 May 2026).
- Press Information Bureau, “Government Strengthens Verification Infrastructure through Amendments to the Legal Metrology (GATC) Rules, 2025” (pib.gov.in, 30 October 2025).
- SCC Times (SCC Online), “Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Amendment Rules, 2025: Key changes in Verification, Applications, Fees and Recognition” (scconline.com, 28 October 2025).
- TeamLease RegTech, “Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Amendment Rules, 2025” (teamleaseregtech.com, 25 October 2025). G.S.R. 779(E), 23 October 2025
- Hindustan Scale Company, “SSBP Table Top Scale with Pole Display – 10, 30, 50 kg, Stainless” (hindustanscale.com).
- Hindustan Scale Company, “ABSWR Waterproof Price Computing Scale – 30 kg, Weight, Rate and Total” (hindustanscale.com).
- Hindustan Scale Company, “PLCHQS Electronic Platform Scale – 50 to 300 kg, Chequered Plate, Double Display” (hindustanscale.com).
- Department of Consumer Affairs (Gazette of India), “G.S.R. 779(E): Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Amendment Rules, 2025” (consumeraffairs.gov.in, 23 October 2025). Gazette of India, Extraordinary, No. 695, 24 October 2025; e-Gazette ID CG-DL-E-24102025-267111
- Department of Consumer Affairs (Gazette of India), “G.S.R. 593(E): Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013” (consumeraffairs.gov.in, 5 September 2013). Principal rules; rule 2(1)(b), rule 5(9), rule 5(13)