The QCO regime: India must align regulations with manufacturing ambition

Reform must also focus on how standards are adhered to. India still lacks an adequate accredited testing and certification infrastructure

A high-level committee headed by NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba has reportedly suggested scrapping or deferring more than 200 quality-control orders (QCOs) issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act. These orders, meant to curb substandard imports and ensure consumer safety, have grown far beyond their original purpose. The number of products covered has risen from fewer than 100 a decade ago to about 800 today, extending beyond finished goods to raw materials and intermediates. This expansion has come at a cost. Certification delay, rising compliance burdens, and supply-chain bottlenecks have slowed production, especially for micro, small,