QCI

Quality Council of India (QCI) is a not-for-profit organization promoted by the Government of India and private sector participants to advance a culture of quality across industry, services, and public administration. Established in 1997, QCI serves as a national facilitator for standardization, certification, and quality assurance programs, helping organizations adopt national and international standards and access credible third-party assessments.

Governance and scope: QCI is promoted by the Department of Commerce, Government of India, and operates as a corporate body with a governance framework that includes government representatives, industry experts, and professionals. It funds its activities through government grants, service fees, and contributions from the private sector. The organization coordinates with various sectoral boards and committees to implement quality initiatives nationwide.

Activities and boards: A core function of QCI is the operation of accreditation boards, notably the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET). NABCB accredits certification bodies that certify products, processes, and management systems to international standards. NABET accredits education and training programs and institutions. In the healthcare sector, QCI oversees the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), which accredits hospitals and related facilities. QCI also supports sector-specific quality campaigns, supplier quality programs, and public procurement quality requirements.

Impact and partnerships: Through its accreditation and certification frameworks, QCI aims to raise product and service quality, enhance consumer protection, and improve export competitiveness. It collaborates with international bodies such as ISO, ILAC, and IAF, as well as domestic standards organizations like BIS, to promote quality across sectors and facilitate mutual recognition.

See also: ISO, NABCB, NABH, NABET, Bureau of Indian Standards, Make in India.