About Us
The National Test House [NTH], formerly known as Government Test House was established long way back in 1912 in Calcutta by the then Railway Board to cater to the needs of the Indian Railways by import substitution. During 1916-1918 the Indian Industrial Commission recommended for an Indian Stores Department and the same was formed which absorbed NTH for regular testing of the general stores required by the Government Departments including Defense Department for a long period. In 1934 the Industrial Intelligence and Research Bureau later re-designated as Industrial Research Bureau, the genesis of modern CSIR, was formed by the Government of India and was housed and nurtured in NTH for conducting researches on problems directly connected with the indigenous development of raw materials.
Thus NTH has travelled a long way and has established its importance in the panorama of the Indian industry. Since independence the responsibilities of NTH have increased manifold. It has been actively involved in all aspects of technology connected with industry, commerce, trade, import substitution, export promotion and standardization. NTH has been an active partner in standardization and formulation of National Standards and has the proud privilege of assisting Indian Standards Institution presently known as Bureau of Indian Standards since its very inception in 1947. NTH is also actively involved in rendering assistance to NABL in accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories in the country.
To serve the long felt necessities of the Indian industry spreading over this vast subcontinent, it was envisaged to open Regional Test Houses in various parts of the country. The NTH has now six regional Laboratories located in the Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, North West and North East of the country. The chronological events leading to the development of NTH to its present stature are enumerated below:
1912
Established in Calcutta under the then Railway Board to check the suitability of indigenously manufactures stores for use by the Indian Railways.1914 Entrusted to undertake the testing of munitions by the then Munitions Board.
1922
Absorbed by the Indian Stores Department on the recommendation of the Industrial Commission. General stores required by the Defense Department were regularly test till 1929.
1934
The Industrial Intelligence & Research Bureau (later redesigned as Industrial Research Bureau) housed in the NTH for conducting research on problems connected with indigenous raw material resources.
1935
Organized a Road Test Track on behalf of the Department of Communication.
1940
The research section of the NTH was transferred to the administrative control of the Directorate of Scientific & Industrial Research which was also housed in the NTH.
1942
The Directorate of Scientific & Industrial Research presently known as Council of Scientific & Industrial Research [CSIR] was shifted to New Delhi.
1948
A Reorganization Committee was set up by the Government of India to suggest modernization program of the NTH.
1949
Eminent scientist and industrialists were nominated on the reconstituted Advisory Board of the NTH by the Government of India as per the recommendations of the Reorganization Committee.
1956
Completion of the second phase of the NTH building construction and overall expansion of scientific personnel and modern equipment's as per the recommendation of the Reorganization Committee.
1964
Golden Jubilee celebrated Bombay branch opened.
1965
A study Team was appointed by the Government of India to examine thoroughly the organizational structure and method of working of scientific personnel. Important recommendations were made by the Study Team to raise the level of competence of the institution.
1972
Diamond Jubilee celebrated.
1975
Madras branch opened.
1977
Ghaziabad branch opened.
1981
Madras Test House shifted to its own building at Tharamani.
1982
Seventeenth Anniversary celebrated.
1983
Bombay Test House shifted to its own building at Marol.
1984
Recognized as a major scientific organization by the Velluri Committee appointed by SACC.
1985
Directorate General’s office started functioning in the premises of NTH, Calcutta as Headquarters.
1986
Ghaziabad Test House shifted to its own building at Kamla Nehru Nagar.
1993
High Voltage Laboratory of NTH, Ghaziabad inaugurated.
1994
Jaipur branch opened.
Computerized Management Information System at NTH, Calcutta inaugurated.
1996
Guwahati branch opened.
2000
The Metrology & Calibration Block and Heavy Material Testing Block of the Laboratory Complex Complex of NTH at Salt Lake, Calcutta taken over and made partially functional.
2001
The Main Block of the Laboratory Complex of NTH at Salt Lake, Calcutta taken over.
2002
All earmarked laboratories viz. Civil, RPT, Light Mechanical and Chemical (except Paint) shifted to NTH, Salt Lake.
2003
New building of NTH, Salt Lake inaugurated.
2005
New Building of NTH, Jaipur branch inaugurated.
2012
Centenary building in NTH, Chennai inaugurated.
2013
Centenary celebration commemorated under the august presence of Hon’ble President of India Sri Pranab Mukherjee.
Centenary Celebration of NTH was commemorated on 20th January, 2013 in the august presence of Hon’ble President of India, Sri Pranab Mukherjee. The celebrated event took place in the historic Town Hall of Kolkata. Other dignitaries and personalities, present in the occasion, were Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Sri M. K. Narayanan, then Hon’ble union State Minister (with independent charge) of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Prof. K. V. Thomas, Hon’ble Minister in-charge of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of West Bengal Sri Sadhan Pande, and Prof. Bikash Sinha, eminent Scientist, Homi Bhabha Professor, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and others.
On this occasion book titled “History of National Test House Origin of Scientific and Industrial Research India” was released by Sri M. K. Narayanan, then Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal and the first copy was presented to Hon’ble President of India.
2016
New Building of NTH, Guwahati inaugurated.
2017
State-of the-Art Gonio photometric laboratory at NTH(ER), Kolkata, in order to enhance India's general lighting sector.
2018
One additional floor over the existing laboratory Building at NTH(NWR), Jaipur.
Installation of 100 kWp Roof Top Solar PV Module on the roof top of NTH Salt Lake, Kolkata.
2019
Rooftop solar PV modules have been erected and put into service at NTH(NER), Guwahati and NTH (WR), Mumbai, each with a capacity of 30kWp & 50kWP respectively.
2020
Construction of the G+4 Phase-II Building at NTH(WR), Mumbai.
2021
NTH satellite center at the RRSL Premises in Pindra, Varanasi (U.P.)
2022
Launched new NTH Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) - https://mis.nth.gov.in/ and NTH Mobile App E-Samadhan
2023
Inaugurated High Voltage laboratory at NTH(SR), Chennai, Microbiology laboratory at NTH(NER), Guwahati and Domestic Appliance laboratory at NTH(SR), Chennai
