The Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his 78th Independence Day speech, emphasized the necessity of strengthening Indian Standards to make domestic products globally competitive.
In a significant move towards ensuring superior product quality and consumer safety, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organized an inter-ministerial meeting on “Implementation of Standards – Bringing More Products under Quality Control Orders (QCOs)” in New Delhi. The meeting underscored the importance of prioritizing Indian Standards to enhance the quality ecosystem and curb sub-standard imports.
Quality Control Orders: Strengthening Atma Nirbhar Bharat
The role of QCOs in achieving the vision of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” is crucial. The Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his 78th Independence Day speech, emphasized the necessity of strengthening Indian Standards to make domestic products globally competitive. Ministries are urged to accord top priority to standardization and expedite the implementation of QCOs across various sectors.
The Need for Indian Standards Despite Global Standards
In an increasingly interconnected world, global standards set a benchmark for trade, interoperability, and quality assurance. However, national standards, such as Indian Standards (IS), remain crucial for addressing unique local challenges, fostering economic self-reliance, and ensuring consumer protection. While global standards provide a broad framework, Indian Standards serve as a strategic tool for shaping India’s industrial landscape in alignment with national priorities.
1. Addressing Localized Needs and Conditions
Global standards are designed for broad applicability, often failing to consider country-specific requirements. India, with its diverse climate, geographical variations, and unique consumer behavior, needs customized standards that ensure product durability in extreme weather conditions, address region-specific risks, and adapt to local materials and production techniques. For instance, while global construction standards may dictate general safety measures, Indian Standards account for high seismic activity in the Himalayan belt, ensuring more resilient infrastructure.
2. Protecting Domestic Industries and MSMEs
Global standards are often developed by industrially advanced nations, favoring their technological capabilities and market structures. If India were to blindly adopt global standards, many of its small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would struggle to comply due to the high cost of certification and technology adaptation. Indian Standards create a level playing field for MSMEs by setting quality benchmarks aligned with their capabilities, enabling cost-effective compliance while maintaining global compatibility, and encouraging domestic manufacturing by reducing reliance on expensive imported technology. For example, QCOs introduced in the toy industry mandated compliance with BIS standards, significantly reducing the influx of substandard imported toys, thereby protecting local manufacturers.
3. Strengthening ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ and Reducing Import Dependency
One of the key objectives of Indian Standards is to support the vision of a self-reliant India by reducing dependence on imported substandard goods that may not adhere to Indian safety norms, encouraging domestic R&D and innovation in line with India’s industrial and consumer needs, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian products in both domestic and international markets. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has played a pivotal role in setting up sector-specific QCOs, ensuring quality adherence in key industries such as steel, chemicals, and electronics. This not only reduces reliance on foreign goods but also boosts India’s export potential.
4. Ensuring Consumer Safety and Public Health
Many global standards focus on efficiency and trade facilitation rather than direct consumer safety. Indian Standards place a strong emphasis on consumer protection, especially in critical sectors like food, pharmaceuticals, and electrical goods. BIS certification ensures stringent safety norms for hazardous products such as electrical appliances to prevent fire hazards, higher quality assurance in food products to tackle contamination and health risks, and enforcement mechanisms tailored to Indian market realities to ensure compliance. For example, Indian food safety standards under FSSAI are more comprehensive than many global standards in regulating additives, pesticide residue, and fortification needs.
5. Strategic Autonomy in Policy Making
Adopting global standards without scrutiny can compromise national interests, making India dependent on international regulatory bodies. Having strong Indian Standards allows India to negotiate from a position of strength in global trade agreements, develop sector-specific policies that cater to national economic priorities, and safeguard strategic industries, ensuring that quality benchmarks align with national security concerns, such as in telecom and defense equipment.
6. Facilitating Global Trade on India’s Terms
Indian Standards do not exist in isolation; they are increasingly aligned with international norms while ensuring India’s strategic interests. By setting robust domestic standards, Indian manufacturers gain confidence to compete in international markets, mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with global standard-setting bodies can be negotiated favorably, and export quality enhancement is facilitated, helping Indian brands establish credibility worldwide. For example, India’s push for pharmaceutical standards harmonization with global regulatory bodies has positioned it as a major exporter of generic medicines.
Ensuring Competitiveness and Consumer Safety
The meeting deliberated on the far-reaching benefits of QCOs, which mandate compliance with Indian Standards to enhance public health, safety, and industrial competitiveness. A particular focus was placed on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as QCOs create a level playing field by ensuring that all market players adhere to uniform quality standards. This not only boosts MSME competitiveness in the domestic market but also facilitates easier access to global markets, opening new avenues for growth and exports.
Broad Participation and Review of Pending QCOs
Bureau of Indian Standards organises Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Implementation of Standards – Bringing more products under Quality Control Orders (QCOs). The meeting witnessed participation from representatives of 17 Union Ministries and Departments, including:
- Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- Ministry of Textiles
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Ministry of Steel
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
- Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries
- Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC)
- Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI)
A crucial segment of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the status of 628 products currently under consideration for inclusion under QCOs. A consensus was reached among ministries to accelerate the implementation timelines for these products, reinforcing India’s commitment to raising product quality and fostering self-reliance in key sectors.
Impact of QCOs on the Toy Industry: A Success Story
One of the notable discussions during the meeting centered on the positive impact of QCO implementation in the toy industry. The introduction of stringent quality controls has led to remarkable improvements in the safety and quality of toys manufactured and sold in India. This success story serves as an example of how regulatory measures can elevate industry standards while ensuring consumer safety.
Mandatory Compliance and Industry Consultations
Under the BIS Act, 2016, compliance with standards remains voluntary unless made mandatory under Section 16. Government ministries and departments are empowered to enforce compliance where necessary. Before the implementation of a QCO, extensive stakeholder consultations with industry representatives are conducted to ensure feasibility and smooth adoption.
Bureau of Indian Standards: Driving Quality and Excellence
While global standards provide a broad framework, Indian Standards serve as a critical enabler of self-reliance, industrial competitiveness, and consumer safety. They ensure that products meet India’s unique requirements while fostering an ecosystem where domestic industries can thrive. By balancing global best practices with national priorities, India strengthens its economic sovereignty and global trade positioning.
Thus, Indian Standards are not just about compliance; they are about empowering Indian industries, protecting consumers, and building a future-ready, self-reliant Bharat.
As India’s National Standards Body, the Bureau of Indian Standards plays a pivotal role in the standardization, marking, and quality certification of goods. Through the rigorous implementation of QCOs and the promotion of Indian Standards, BIS continues to strengthen India’s quality ecosystem, making Indian products globally competitive and fostering consumer trust.
The inter-ministerial meeting marked another step forward in aligning India’s industrial landscape with world-class quality norms, ensuring that Indian goods meet the highest standards of safety, durability, and performance. As the country advances towards its goal of becoming a developed and self-reliant economy, the proactive enforcement of QCOs will be instrumental in shaping India’s quality-driven future.
