Context: Minister of State for Commerce and Industry inaugurated the new unified headquarters of the Quality Council of India (QCI) at the World Trade Centre, New Delhi.
About Quality Council of India (QCI)
What is QCI?
- QCI is an autonomous national accreditation body responsible for ensuring quality assurance in products, services, and processes across sectors, through independent third-party assessments.
- Established In: 1996, based on recommendations from an EU Expert Mission and inter-ministerial consultations.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade – DPIIT)
- Headquarters: Now located at World Trade Centre (WTC), New Delhi
Objectives of the Quality Council of India
- Promote quality standards across public and private sectors.
- Provide independent accreditation and third-party assessment.
- Enhance quality of life and public service delivery through better governance standards.
- Act as a nodal body to implement National Quality Campaigns aligned with global benchmarks.
Structure and Governance of QCI
- Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model involving the government and industry associations — CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM.
- Registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- Governing Council of 39 members with equal representation from government, industry, and stakeholders.
- The Chairperson is nominated by the Prime Minister of India.
Key Functions of QCI
- Accreditation Services: Through bodies like NABL, NABH, NABET, NBQP, ensuring quality in labs, healthcare, environment, etc.
- Third‑party Assessments: Independent evaluation of services, infrastructure, and government programs.
- Policy Implementation: Supports quality mandates under schemes like Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, etc.
- Capacity Building: Trains personnel for quality audits and quality improvement across sectors.
- Global Collaboration: Aligns India’s quality ecosystem with international benchmarks and WTO standards.
Conclusion
The inauguration of the unified QCI headquarters at the World Trade Centre reflects India’s commitment to strengthening quality assurance across sectors. With its robust accreditation services, third‑party assessments, and capacity‑building initiatives, the Quality Council of India is poised to drive national and international quality benchmarks forward.
