National Test House (NTH) Modernizing Testing Infrastructure to become Future Ready

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National Test House (NTH) UPSC Relevance

National Test House (NTH): It is a premier Scientific Organization engaged in Testing, Calibration and Quality evaluation of raw material and finished product.

National Test House (NTH) is also important for UPSC Prelims 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- Governance Initiatives if the government to promote various sectors of the country).

National Test House (NTH) in News

Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs said that National Test House (NTH) is undertaking major initiatives to transform into a future ready organisation.
This future ready NTH will be equipped with proper and adequate testing facilities for the goods and services either manufactured in the country or imported.
She also stressed that PM Gatishakti portal is being leveraged to identify gaps in testing infrastructure in the country and efforts are to subsequently fill those gaps to promote Ease of Doing Business.

World Cities Report 2022

Modernization of Testing Infrastructure

The following modernisation activities in testing infrastructure have been undertaken:

State-of-Art-Facility: Chennai branch of NTH has developed a state-of-art testing facility for simulation of Lightning Impulse (upto 1400 KVP), Switching Impulse (upto 1050 KVP) & Current Impulse (upto 10kA).
- This equipment is used for assessment of the sustainability of Transmission Line Equipments prone to Lightning Strikes and Switching Surges during their operation.
- The facility will be available for the service to the nation from January, 2023.
Establishment of World-Class Digital Library: NTH is striving to establish world class scientific laboratory system and for ease of users i.e., consumers.
- NTH has introduced a fully digital Laboratory Management Information System (LIMS).
- Now, consumers can get their product sample tested from any part of the country by sending samples through courier, booking the required tests online, submitting payment online and get the test results online, even by using mobile phone.
- By using sample tracking, they may also monitor the testing time and position of their samples.
- The new MIS used by all Regional laboratories of NTH is enhancing the operational efficiency of the laboratory by automating and streamlining the workflows, eliminating the need for maintaining information manually.
- This will in turn is minimising the testing time and increasing the overall laboratory capacity.
To boost up quality testing of food products in North Eastern states, Guwahati branch of NTH has developed a Microbiology laboratory where testing of drinking water and different type of spices will be conducted.
- The facility will be available for the service to the nation from January, 2023.
While inaugurating ‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ scheme, our Prime Minister said that this scheme will ensure affordable quality fertiliser of Bharat brand to the farmers.
- NTH will undertake quality testing of fertilisers as third referee analysis with Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
- 67 scientists from all NTH laboratories dealing with testing of fertiliser samples have attended training programme in fertiliser quality control and analysis at Central Fertilizer Quality Control and Training Institute, Faridabad.
Transformer testing facility: To support the PM Gati Shakti Mission, initiated by our Prime Minister in respect of the Technological Development of the Nation, NTH is working on a plan to establish a state-of-art “Transformer testing facility” at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- This test facility is being created at the hub of transformer industry which will cater to the demand of north and western part of the country and will reduce the transportation cost and time taken in getting transformer samples tested.
- This will reduce the present queuing time in testing of transformers from months to a few days supporting power generation and distribution networks in the country.
Potable Water Testing: The NTH labs are equipped with full parameter potable water testing.
- The method is also being extended to river water environmental testing and sampling to support availability of portable drinking water in most States.
NTH on Government e Market (GeM): NTH is Registered in the Government e Market (GeM) as a service provider in the category “Testing and Calibration Service” to meet the testing needs of all Government departments, CABs, and PSUs etc.
Increased Revenue: During this fiscal year (up to November 2022), NTH generated revenue of Rs. 12.0 crores from testing and calibration services, an increase of 18.5% over the previous year’s revenue.
- The total number of samples tested by various regional laboratories (up to November 2022) is 10734, an increase of 17.7% over the sample tested during the corresponding period in the previous year.
- NTH made every effort to increase both the revenue and the sample tested, and it appears that it will reach revenue generation of Rs. 25.00 crores by the end of this fiscal year.
EV Testing & Standardization: Future generation EV needs testing & standardisation, for which NTH Kolkata & Mumbai Regions will setup EV Battery & EV Charging Testing facility.
For Business Promotion and to establish close collaboration for testing across the country, interaction with various Heads of Govt./PSUs/ PVt. Industries are initiated in last few months. Few of them are as below:
- Managing Director, DMRC
- Chief of Stores, DMRC
- Principal Chief Electrical Engineer along with Chief Electrical Engineer (Project), Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
- Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- CEO, NABL
Training Programs: NTH has also introduced various training programmes in last few months for engineering college students as well as professionals across all Regional laboratories of NTH.
- This is being done with an objective to empower the youth of the country with adequate skill sets that will enable their employment in relevant sectors, improve productivity and also enhance entrepreneurship among them.
Support to MSME Sector: NTH is supporting the MSME industry and sellers on GeM portal to provide quality, inspected material to the procuring agencies, be it a small item like a pen or a scientific item like a transformer.
- NTH is committed to serve the people with quality, honestly with transparency in operation.

National Test House (NTH)

Background: NTH originated in the year 1912, as “Government Test House” at Alipore, Calcutta.
About: National Test House (NTH) is a premier Scientific Organization engaged in Testing, Calibration and Quality evaluation of raw material and finished product since last 109 years.
Parent Ministry: NTH is functioning as a subordinate office under, Govt. of India, Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs.
Key Objective: NTH functions with the primary objective of assisting and guiding the indigenous manufacturers on the production of Engineering goods with Quality Testing.
- Now, during this Amrit Kaal, and with the changing world scenario, as our country moves towards the goal of self-reliance, NTH is contributing by providing dedicated services to various nation building projects.

National Test House (NTH) FAQs

What is National Test House (NTH)?

Ans. National Test House (NTH) is a premier Scientific Organization engaged in Testing, Calibration and Quality evaluation of raw material and finished product since last 109 years.

National Test House (NTH) functions under which Ministry?

Ans. NTH is functioning as a subordinate office under, Govt. of India, Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs.

What is the key role of the National Test House (NTH)?

Ans. NTH functions with the primary objective of assisting and guiding the indigenous manufacturers on the production of Engineering goods with Quality Testing.

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