Centre rolls out next-gen reforms to strengthen India’s quality ecosystem

New Delhi, Dec 24: The Quality Council of India (QCI) on Wednesday announced a comprehensive set of next-generation quality reforms on the eve of Sushasan Divas 2025, aimed at strengthening India’s quality ecosystem.
Drawing from operational experience and evolving stakeholder needs, the reforms are aimed at having a transformative impact across sectors such as healthcare, laboratories, MSMEs and manufacturing, according to a statement issued by the Commerce and Industry Ministry.
System-wide reforms to power the quality ecosystem include the unveiling of the Q Mark – Desh ka Haq, a QR-coded Mark of Quality to enable citizens to know their laboratory, hospital and MSME, ensuring full disclosure and eliminating fake certificates.
The reforms mark a shift from inspection to trust through reduced paperwork, shorter timelines, fewer inspections and a low-friction ecosystem based on higher trust. The assessor pool will be expanded across boards and divisions by lowering entry barriers to bring in young experts and strengthen last-mile reach, the statement explained.
QCI is also launching Quality Setu, a secure ticket-based system for time-bound grievance redressal and feedback resolution. A single, paperless, modular one-stop accreditation platform will be launched to replace multiple accreditation portals.
For industry and MSMEs, the reforms focus on empowering India’s economic backbone of over six crore MSMEs. Under the QCI–Industry partnership, QCI will mentor and support Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers to achieve ZED and Lean certification, making Indian products ready for global standards.
One lakh MSMEs and Self-Help Groups under the ODOP initiative will be trained in quality, packaging and branding in 2026.
A Shop Floor Best Practices Playbook for MSMEs will be introduced to familiarise small businesses with global quality practices and strengthen day-to-day shop floor performance. Fees for ZED and Lean certification will be reduced to ensure affordability, access, quality and recognition for last-mile entrepreneurs, the statement said.
Under NABL reforms for industry and laboratories, QCI aims to position India as the testing capital of the world. A model scope for medical testing laboratories will be introduced to ensure uniformity in accredited scopes. Technical skilling initiatives will train 5,000 laboratory personnel in 2026 to strengthen the national testing ecosystem.
Self-declaration for authorised signatories will enable approval of proposed signatories for NABL assessors within 48 hours. (IANS)