Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: National Test House (NTH), under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, today marked a significant milestone in strengthening the nation’s quality assurance and testing infrastructure with the visit of Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, to the NTH Western Region campus at Mumbai.
The programme commenced with the Minister’s arrival at NTH Mumbai, followed by the Bhoomi Pujan and laying of the foundation stone for future expansion of testing infrastructure. The initiative reflects the Government’s continued commitment to developing world-class quality infrastructure to support industry, trade and consumer welfare.
In his inaugural address, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi emphasized that robust testing and certification infrastructure plays a vital role in protecting consumer interests, enhancing product reliability and facilitating ease of doing business. He noted that strengthening the country’s quality ecosystem is essential for improving the global competitiveness of Indian products and advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of the Department of Consumer Affairs and National Test House in expanding advanced testing facilities across different regions of the country and bringing testing services closer to industry and consumers. He subsequently visited the NTH Mumbai laboratories and engaged with scientists, technical experts, and officials to review the institution’s testing capabilities and ongoing modernization initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Member of Parliament from Mumbai North West, Shri Ravindra Waikar, highlighted the importance of robust quality infrastructure in promoting industrial development and consumer welfare, and appreciated the efforts of the Department of Consumer Affairs and National Test House in strengthening the country’s testing ecosystem and extending quality assurance services to emerging sectors.
During the event, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the following facilities:
• Microbiological Testing Laboratory at National Test House, Mumbai;
• Shoe Testing Facility at National Test House (Northern Region), Ghaziabad; and
• NTH-AURIC Satellite Centre at NICDC, AURIC City, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
The event was attended by senior leadership of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, and Smt. Richa Misra, Additional Secretary (Consumer Affairs), both underscored the pivotal role that NTH plays in ensuring product quality, safeguarding consumer interests, and enhancing industrial competitiveness. Dr. Alok Kumar Srivastava, Director General, National Test House, presented a comprehensive overview of NTH’s expanding capabilities, ongoing initiatives, and strategic roadmap for the future.
The newly inaugurated facilities are expected to significantly augment testing capacity in critical sectors, promote compliance with national and international standards, and support the objectives of consumer safety, quality assurance and industrial competitiveness.
Building on more than a century of excellence, National Test House remains at the forefront of India’s quality infrastructure, providing trusted, scientific, and globally benchmarked testing services that empower industry, safeguard consumers, and support national development. The event marked a significant step towards strengthening India’s quality assurance, product testing and consumer protection ecosystem under the Department of Consumer Affairs.
