National Test House Ghaziabad to Launch Advanced Shoe Testing Laboratory to Boost India’s Footwear Manufacturing Ecosystem
In a major step towards strengthening India’s manufacturing quality infrastructure, the National Test House (NTH), Northern Region, Ghaziabad, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, is set to unveil a state-of-the-art Shoe Testing Laboratory aimed at supporting the country’s rapidly expanding footwear industry.
The advanced facility has been established to provide comprehensive, reliable, and high-precision footwear testing services for MSMEs, manufacturers, exporters, regulatory agencies, and consumers across India. Officials say the laboratory will play a key role in improving product quality, ensuring consumer safety, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian footwear products.
The launch of the modern testing laboratory is being viewed as an important strategic initiative to strengthen India’s national quality assurance infrastructure and support the government’s larger vision of promoting manufacturing excellence under the “Make in India” and “Viksit Bharat” initiatives.
According to officials, the footwear industry in India has been witnessing rapid growth due to rising domestic demand, increasing exports, and expanding manufacturing capacity. As consumer expectations evolve, the demand for footwear products that are durable, comfortable, safe, and capable of performing under different environmental conditions has also increased significantly.
To meet these expectations, footwear products require rigorous quality testing and scientific evaluation to ensure compliance with safety and performance standards. Parameters such as slip resistance, durability, material strength, comfort, flexibility, and the absence of harmful chemicals or dyes are considered critical for ensuring high-quality footwear.
The newly upgraded Shoe Testing Laboratory at NTH Ghaziabad has been equipped with modern testing instruments and advanced infrastructure capable of conducting comprehensive testing for a wide range of footwear products in accordance with relevant Indian Standards (IS).
The laboratory will provide testing services for multiple categories of footwear, including safety and industrial shoes, school shoes, leather footwear, PVC footwear, sandals, chappals, children’s footwear, sports footwear, and specialized protective boots used in hazardous industrial environments.
Officials said the facility has been designed to undertake a broad range of performance and quality tests to verify product safety, durability, comfort, and overall performance. The laboratory aims to deliver accurate and dependable results with faster turnaround times, enabling manufacturers to improve product quality and meet regulatory requirements more efficiently.
One of the key advantages of the new facility is its strategic location in Ghaziabad, which is close to major footwear manufacturing clusters such as Delhi-NCR, Kanpur, and Agra. This proximity is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs and testing delays for manufacturers operating in northern India.
Industry experts believe the laboratory will particularly benefit MSMEs and small-scale footwear manufacturers who often face challenges in accessing affordable and reliable testing infrastructure. By offering comparatively affordable testing services, the facility is expected to make quality assessment more accessible to smaller industry players and help them comply with domestic as well as international quality standards.
Officials noted that adherence to strict quality norms is becoming increasingly important for Indian exporters as global markets demand higher levels of product reliability, safety, and sustainability. The new laboratory is expected to support exporters in meeting stringent international requirements, thereby improving export readiness and enhancing India’s reputation in the global footwear market.
The facility will also assist regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders in maintaining product quality standards and strengthening consumer confidence in Indian-made footwear products. Reliable testing and certification infrastructure is considered essential for ensuring consistency in manufacturing and preventing the circulation of substandard products in the market.
Among the major highlights of the facility are its advanced footwear testing infrastructure, comprehensive testing capabilities for multiple footwear categories, testing as per Indian Standards, and dedicated support for manufacturers, exporters, MSMEs, and regulatory bodies. Faster sample testing and quicker reporting are also expected to improve operational efficiency for the footwear industry.
Officials emphasized that strengthening testing and certification infrastructure is crucial for India’s ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub for high-quality products. By improving quality assurance mechanisms, the government aims to encourage innovation, increase manufacturing competitiveness, and promote self-reliance in industrial production.
The establishment of the Shoe Testing Laboratory at NTH Ghaziabad aligns closely with the broader objectives of “Make in India” by supporting domestic manufacturing capabilities and fostering a robust quality ecosystem. It also supports the vision of “Viksit Bharat” by creating infrastructure that promotes industrial growth, export competitiveness, and consumer safety.
With the commissioning of the advanced laboratory, the National Test House is expected to play a greater role in strengthening India’s footwear manufacturing ecosystem and ensuring that Indian products meet the highest standards of quality and performance in both domestic and global markets.
