Reimagining India's quality control mandate as an export enabler

As of today, out of approximately 23,000 BIS standards, only 187 QCOs covering 769 products have been notified. This suggests that while the momentum is rising, the journey is far from complete

India’s economic ambitions are bold — and rightly so. From a $4 trillion economy today to a targeted $30 trillion by 2047, the journey demands far more than just capital or scale — it demands trust in Indian products. Quality, therefore, must not be seen as an afterthought but as core infrastructure. In this context, the Government of India’s decision to gradually expand mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) across products is both significant and consequential.

 

Yet, the QCO regime today finds itself mired in controversy. A policy instrument designed to assure quality and prevent the inflow of sub-standard goods is