NATIONAL TEST HOUSE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the National Test House (NTH) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to advance energy efficiency initiatives throughout India.

National Test House

• About: It is a premier scientific and technical institution of this country employed in the service of the country for more than a 110 years.
• Under the: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• Establishment: 1912.
• Largest Testing Laboratory: It is India's largest multi-location multidisciplinary industrial central government's testing laboratory dealing with almost all sorts of testing, calibration, and quality evaluation related to industry, commerce, trade, etc., as per international and national standards.
• Technical Consultancy: It offers technical consultancy, testing, calibration, and quality evaluation across various sectors, adhering to both national and international standards.
• Pioneering Drone Certification: It is the pioneering governmental entity in India for drone certification.
• Branch Locations: Its branches are established at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Varanasi.

Salient features of the MoU are: 

• BEE shall recognise NTH as referral laboratory and send its cases pertaining to technical disputes regarding the test results for consultation.
• BEE shall nominate Officers of NTH in their various Technical Committees in consideration of expertise with NTH Officers.
• NTH shall conduct Capacity Building Training to BEE Officers at the NTH Regional Laboratories / BEE Head Quarters at Delhi.
• Complete Review of existing S & L Programme of BEE including Check Testing Procedures.
• Any other Technical matter pertaining to S & L Scheme with mutual consent.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency

• Establishment: It was established in 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• Objective: The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
• Functions: It coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations; recognizes, identifies, and utilizes the existing resources and infrastructure in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Power.