Government Expands Verification of Fuel Dispensers to Include CNG, LNG, and Hydrogen Under Clean Energy Initiatives

India Enhances Consumer Protection with Expanded Government-Approved Test Centres

On May 24, 2026, the Department of Consumer Affairs in India made a significant move to strengthen consumer protection by widening the role of Government-Approved Test Centres (GATCs). The amendment to the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013, now includes the verification of petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, LNG, and hydrogen dispensers.

The move is expected to enhance the availability of verification services, improve efficiency, and support the growing adoption of cleaner fuels across the country. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution stated that 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 expansion of GATCs is a response to India's shifting energy mix, where the inclusion of various fuel dispensing systems has grown the list from 18 categories of weights and measures to 23. This change aims to address a basic question for consumers: Are they getting exactly what they pay for? The amendment will help ensure accurate fuel delivery and greater transparency in transactions.

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Under the new rules, fees have been standardised. The verification fee for Petrol and Diesel dispensers has been fixed at Rs 5,000 per nozzle, while the fee for CNG, LPG, LNG, and Hydrogen dispensers has been fixed at Rs 10,000 per nozzle.

The structure is designed to bring private laboratories and industries deeper into the verification process, operating as GATCs with the technical expertise required under the Legal Metrology Act. States have also been given more flexibility, with the amendments empowering State Governments to notify additional categories of weights and measures for verification through GATCs under their respective Rules.

To reduce delays, officers of Joint Secretary rank and above can now clear approvals. This move aims to improve administrative efficiency, enabling quicker processing of approvals and related matters.

Comparison of Verification Fees

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The department emphasized that GATCs are already central to the system, providing timely and reliable verification services for weighing and measuring instruments across the country. With the expanded scope, State Legal Metrology Departments can focus more on inspection, enforcement, and consumer grievance redressal.