New Delhi, Dec 25: The Quality Council of India (QCI) on Tuesday announced a comprehensive set of next-generation quality reforms aimed at strengthening India’s quality ecosystem and accelerating the country’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. The reforms, unveiled on the eve of Sushasan Divas 2025, seek to transform quality assurance across healthcare, laboratories, MSMEs and manufacturing sectors.
The reforms have been introduced under the guidance of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and are inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. They are designed to enhance transparency, trust and efficiency across India’s quality infrastructure.
A key highlight of the reforms is the launch of the Q Mark – Desh ka Haq, a QR-coded quality mark aimed at empowering citizens by enabling them to verify the authenticity and quality credentials of laboratories, hospitals and MSMEs. The initiative is expected to curb the prevalence of fake certifications and promote informed consumer choices.
The reforms mark a paradigm shift from inspection-based oversight to a trust-driven system, with reduced paperwork, shorter approval timelines and fewer physical inspections. QCI will also expand its assessor pool by lowering entry barriers, encouraging participation from young professionals and strengthening last-mile implementation.
As part of digital transformation, QCI will introduce Quality Setu, a secure, ticket-based platform for time-bound grievance redressal and stakeholder feedback. A single, paperless and modular accreditation platform will replace multiple existing portals, simplifying processes for institutions and industry.
Special emphasis has been placed on empowering India’s MSME sector. Under the QCI–Industry partnership, Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers will be mentored to achieve ZED and Lean certifications, enabling them to meet global quality standards. One lakh MSMEs and Self-Help Groups under the ODOP initiative will receive training in quality, packaging and branding in 2026. A new Shop Floor Best Practices Playbook will also be introduced to improve daily operational standards, while certification fees will be reduced to enhance affordability and inclusion.
In the laboratories sector, reforms under the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) aim to position India as a global testing hub. Measures include a model scope for medical testing laboratories, training of 5,000 laboratory professionals in 2026, faster approval of authorised signatories through self-declaration, and 48-hour extensions for additional test parameters. Additional fees for product-based accreditation where test parameters already exist will be eliminated.
Healthcare accreditation reforms under the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) focus on improving patient safety and accessibility. Initiatives include the MITRA mentorship programme for hospitals, relaxed eligibility norms allowing facilities with 20 per cent occupancy to apply, graded penalties instead of blanket sanctions, and the introduction of AI-enabled desk-based surveillance to reduce physical inspections.
For certification bodies, the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) will introduce accredited certification for indigenously manufactured products to improve global market access. A “Quality Passport” will be launched to enable smoother acceptance of Indian products worldwide, alongside fast-track accreditation for emerging sectors such as drones and cybersecurity.
Speaking on the occasion, QCI Chairman Shri Jaxay Shah said the reforms align with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and aim to strengthen trust, transparency and efficiency across India’s quality ecosystem. He said the initiatives would simplify compliance, reduce turnaround times and leverage technology to make quality assurance more accessible for enterprises and citizens alike.
With these reforms, QCI aims to reinforce India’s quality infrastructure as a pillar of good governance, global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth, positioning quality as a key driver of national progress.
