India's Quality Revolution: Strengthening Accreditation Systems

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasized the need to enhance India's quality system for excellence. During World Accreditation Day, Singh highlighted the pivotal role of strengthening accreditation bodies like NABL and NABCB in aligning with international standards and improving quality across sectors.

In a significant push towards upgrading the nation's quality infrastructure, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), asserted the strategic necessity of elevating India's accreditation systems. Speaking at the World Accreditation Day event organized by the Quality Council of India (QCI), Singh stressed the importance of developing robust processes that transcend standard practices.

According to a statement from the Commerce and Industry Ministry, Singh said, 'Strengthening the accreditation body and the entire quality system is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards excellence.' The gathering underscored the critical roles played by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) in maintaining India's quality infrastructure. Both boards are integral to international multilateral recognition through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Collectively, NABL and NABCB oversee over 8,000 accredited labs and 260 accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

Established in 1997 under the DPIIT, the QCI remains the foremost organization accountable for administering India's third-party national accreditation system, enhancing quality in various sectors, and counseling government entities and stakeholders on quality-related issues.