Quality Council of India (QCI)

The Quality Council of India (QCI) is an autonomous, non-profit body that plays a pivotal role in promoting and ensuring quality across various sectors in India. It was established in 1996 with the mission of leading the nationwide quality movement in India, facilitating the adoption of quality standards, and enabling the growth of a robust accreditation system.

Key Details:

• Genesis:

  • Founded in 1996 as a national body for accreditation, QCI was created to oversee the development and implementation of quality standards in various industries and sectors.

• Mission:

  • QCI's mission is to lead the quality movement in India, working to improve the standard of products, services, and processes.

• Non-Profit Organization (NPO):

  • QCI is a non-profit organization registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.

• PPP Model:

  • It operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, where it is supported by the Government of India as well as three major industry associations: ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI.

• Nodal Agency:

  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce, serves as the nodal agency for all matters related to quality and QCI.

• Chairman:

  • The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister of India based on recommendations from the industry associations to the government.

Role in National Programs:

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):

  • QCI plays a significant role in the Swachh Bharat Mission, serving as the implementing agency for the Swachh Survekshan survey. This survey assesses and ranks cities in India based on sanitation and cleanliness parameters. It has become a key tool for monitoring progress in cleanliness and waste management across urban India.

• World Accreditation Day (June 9):

  • QCI celebrates World Accreditation Day, a global initiative led by International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). The day is observed to promote the value of accreditation and its role in ensuring the quality and safety of products, services, and systems in the global marketplace.

The establishment of QCI's unified headquarters at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi reflects its growing role and importance in India's quality management ecosystem. Its efforts are helping to standardize and improve processes in both private and public sectors, contributing significantly to national development and governance