Strengthening India’s Quality Ecosystem

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance, GS3/ Economy

Context

• India has significantly expanded its quality ecosystem through standards, certification systems, and quality control orders, however the country still faces challenges in ensuring global credibility and trust in its ecosystem.

India’s Quality Ecosystem

• India has over 22,300 standards, with around 94% harmonised with international ISO and IEC standards.
• India ranked 11th in the Global Quality Infrastructure Index 2025.
• More than 700 products are under mandatory quality certification, while hundreds more are covered under voluntary certification.
• India’s quality ecosystem comprises; 
  • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for standard-setting, 
  • Quality Council of India (QCI), 
  • National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), 
  • National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), 
  • Export Inspection Council (EIC), 
  • Sectoral regulators such as FSSAI and CDSCO, conformity assessment and certification bodies, testing laboratories, and market surveillance mechanisms etc.

Why Existing Arrangements Are Inadequate

• Fragmented Institutional Framework: Responsibilities for standards, certification, regulation, accreditation, and enforcement are spread across multiple ministries and agencies.
  • Lack of coordination creates regulatory overlaps and accountability gaps.
• Overlapping Roles of BIS: The Bureau of Indian Standards performs standard-setting, certification, and some regulatory functions.
  • Such concentration of functions may create conflicts between promotion, certification, and enforcement roles.
• Weak Market Surveillance: Regulations become ineffective if non-compliant products continue to circulate in markets.
  • Surveillance capacities remain uneven across states and sectors.
• Export-Quality Challenges: Export quality regulation is fragmented among agencies such as Export Inspection Council, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, commodity boards, and other regulators.
  • Promotion and regulation often coexist within the same institutions, creating potential conflicts.
• Limited International Recognition: Compliance with Indian standards does not automatically ensure acceptance in foreign markets.
  • Indian certifications often require additional verification abroad, increasing export costs.

Government Initiatives Promoting Quality

• Quality Control Orders (QCOs): Introduced to ensure that products meet prescribed quality and safety standards. It covers sectors such as steel, chemicals, electronics, footwear, and toys.
• Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Scheme: Encourages MSMEs to adopt quality manufacturing practices while minimising environmental impact.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme Supports domestic manufacturing while incentivising firms to achieve global quality benchmarks.
• National Quality Mission: Promotes quality consciousness across industries and public institutions.
• One District One Product (ODOP): Encourages standardisation, branding, and quality enhancement of local products.

Way Ahead

• Improve Testing Infrastructure: Expand accredited laboratories and certification facilities to strengthen quality assessment and compliance.
• Establish a National Authority on Quality: Create a dedicated apex body to provide a whole-of-government approach to quality governance by coordinating standards, certification, accreditation, regulation, and enforcement across sectors.
• Streamline Export Certification: Rationalise multiple export-certification agencies to reduce duplication and simplify compliance for exporters.
• Separate Key Functions: Standard-setting, certification, regulation, and enforcement should be handled independently to enhance transparency and accountability.
• Enhance Global Integration: Increase participation in international standard-setting bodies and pursue mutual recognition arrangements for Indian certifications.

Concluding remarks

• India’s next phase of quality reforms should move beyond merely increasing the number of standards and certifications. 
• The focus must shift toward building a credible, trusted, and internationally recognised quality governance system that supports consumer protection, export competitiveness, and the goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub.

Source: BS