New footwear testing lab to boost quality, aid MSMEs
A state-of-the-art footwear testing laboratory has been established at the National Test House (Northern Region) in Ghaziabad, aimed at strengthening quality infrastructure for one of India’s key labour-intensive sectors.
The facility offers comprehensive testing capabilities across multiple footwear categories, with assessments carried out in accordance with relevant Indian Standards (IS), the consumer affairs ministry said in a statement.
Strategically located near major footwear manufacturing clusters, it promises faster turnaround times and affordable access for MSMEs, exporters, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies. The ministry said the laboratory is expected to play a significant role in helping Indian footwear producers meet stringent domestic and international benchmarks — a critical factor in improving export competitiveness and market acceptance in an increasingly quality-conscious global marketplace.
The initiative is positioned as a contribution to India’s broader national quality infrastructure, with testing and certification support designed to enhance consumer confidence and drive improvements across the value chain, from product reliability to safety compliance.
The facility also aligns with the Government’s “Make in India” push and the overarching “Viksit Bharat” vision, both of which emphasise manufacturing self-reliance and the development of a robust quality assurance ecosystem.
For the footwear sector — where global buyers demand consistent compliance with technical standards — accessible domestic testing infrastructure could reduce dependence on overseas certification facilities and shorten lead times for export-bound consignments.
The move comes as India seeks to consolidate its position as a global manufacturing destination, with quality infrastructure increasingly viewed as a prerequisite rather than an afterthought.
