The main objective of the NPSL is to maintain primary standards of measurement and materials on internationally recognized level.
The NPSL is the national custodian of all physical standards of measurements and materials. In simple terms this in fact means that NPSL is to realize, maintain & disseminate the standards of measurement.
Thus NPSL by maintaining the national standards of measurements and materials acts as the focal a point for all calibration / standardization and testing needs of the country, and is the only certified link to the international measurement system. By this it is meant that NPSL is the only organization within the country which can certify whether a particular measuring instrument conforms to the permissible norms and specifications required for measuring instruments.
NPSL also due to its nature carries out inter comparison of its standards with the ones held internationally so that it can be certain that any measurement made with equipment tested by NPSL conforms to the same fact the essence of the international co-operation under the SI protocol, which requires all measurement worldwide to conform to one and the same standard.