Quality Council of India (QCI)

Why in the News?

• The Quality Council of India (QCI) marked 25 years of its establishment in 2025.
• Launched the campaign “Gunvatta Se Atmanirbharta: India’s Quality Movement” to highlight India’s quality hubs, landmark achievements, and initiatives improving citizens’ quality of life.
• The QCI also released Next-Gen Reforms under Viksit Bharat@2047, aiming to make accreditation faster, smarter, digital, and accessible across industry, laboratories, healthcare, and MSMEs.

Overview of Quality Council of India (QCI)

• Established: 1996–1997 as a national accreditation body to promote quality standards across India.
• Nature: A non-profit, autonomous organization, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Set Up Through Public-Private Partnership (PPP):
  • Government of India in collaboration with premier industry associations:
    • ASSOCHAM – Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
    • CII – Confederation of Indian Industry
    • FICCI – Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Administrative Control: Functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Governance of Quality Council of India (QCI)

• Governing Council: 38 members, with equal representation from government, industry, and consumers.
• Chairman: Appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of industry representatives.
• Executive Bodies: Boards and committees implement strategies, policies, and operational guidelines as defined by the governing council.

Objectives of Quality Council of India (QCI)

• Create a mechanism for independent third-party assessment of products, services, and processes.
• Promote adoption and adherence to quality standards across sectors including education, healthcare, environment, governance, infrastructure, and social services.
• Lead national quality campaigns to raise awareness and improve citizens’ quality of life.
• Support MSMEs and small businesses to achieve global quality benchmarks.

Functions of Quality Council of India (QCI)

• Acts as India’s national accreditation body, ensuring standards for products, services, and processes.
• Promotes Quality Management Systems (QMS), Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), and certification/inspection services through boards such as NABCB, NABH, NABL, and NDIE.
• Drives national quality campaigns through awareness programs and skill development.
• Supports initiatives like One District One Product (ODOP) and GI tagging for promoting indigenous products domestically and internationally.
• Collaborates with organizations like Food Corporation of India (FCI) to improve food quality and distribution, using biometric authentication and One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC).
• Brings quality consciousness in the coal sector through third-party sampling, leading to significant improvements.

Key Boards of Quality Council of India (QCI) and Their Roles

1. NABL – National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories

• Accredits laboratories for accuracy, reliability, and technical competence.
• Initiatives:
  • Skill development for 5,000 laboratory personnel by 2026.
  • 48-hour scope extension for new tests or analytes.
  • Zero additional fees for overlapping accreditation.

2. NABH – National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers

• Focus: Patient safety and healthcare quality.
• Programs:
  • MITRA mentoring for hospitals.
  • Gunvatta Pathshala for skilling doctors, nurses, and technicians.
  • Relaxed occupancy norms (20%) for accreditation.
  • AI-assisted desktop surveillance for consistent performers.
  • Graded penalties instead of blanket bans.

3. NABCB – National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies

• Ensures global recognition of Indian products and services.
• Initiatives:
  • Quality Passport for Indian Products for faster global market access.
  • Fast-track accreditation for new-age tech areas (drones, cybersecurity).
  • Accreditation of indigenously manufactured products.

4. NDIE – National Division for Industry Excellence

• Supports 6 crore+ MSMEs in achieving global quality standards.
• Programs:
  • Mentoring for ZED and Lean certifications.
  • Shop floor best practices playbook for MSMEs.
  • Training in packaging and branding for 100,000 MSMEs & SHGs by 2026.
  • Reduces certification fees to improve accessibility and affordability.

Recent Reforms and Initiatives

• Next-Gen Reforms under Viksit Bharat@2047:
  • Q-Mark / Desh ka Haq Mark: QR-coded transparency for labs, hospitals, and MSMEs.
  • Single, paperless accreditation platform replacing multiple portals.
  • Expanded assessor pool for broader reach, including young experts.
  • Quality Setu: Secure, time-bound grievance and feedback resolution system.
  • ZED Bronze Certification in 24 hours, fully online process.
  • 4-year lab accreditation instead of 2 years.
  • Soil Health Card labs and MELT Scheme labs recognized in 48 hours.

With reference to the Quality Council of India (QCI), consider the following statements:
1.	QCI is a non-profit autonomous organization set up under a Public-Private Partnership between the Government of India and premier industry associations.
2.	QCI functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3.	The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of industry representatives.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2, and 3 only

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: QCI is a non-profit, autonomous organization established under a PPP model with Government of India and industry bodies ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI.
Statement 2 is correct: QCI functions under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Statement 3 is correct: The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister based on recommendations from the industry.

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