**Executive Summary**
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 12, 2026, to strengthen the quality, testing, and skilling ecosystem in the leather and footwear sector. The partnership aims to establish a structured framework for capacity building, infrastructure development, and worker certification across key industrial clusters. Key initiatives include the creation of a multi-level worker assessment framework and the enhancement of MSME access to accreditation and testing facilities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Strategic Objectives and Regional Focus**
* Establishment of a structured framework for capacity building, certification, and quality ecosystem strengthening.
* Targeting of key footwear clusters including Agra, Bahadurgarh, Ranipet, Chennai, Calicut, and Kanpur.
* Contribution to a national vision of building a globally competitive and future-ready manufacturing ecosystem.
* **Skilling and Certification Framework**
* Development of a multi-level worker assessment and personal certification framework.
* Introduction of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathways for semi-skilled and experienced workers lacking formal qualifications.
* Delivery of outcome-oriented training programmes for workers, supervisors, and industry professionals.
* **Infrastructure and Technical Support**
* Mapping of testing and calibration laboratories to identify gaps in access.
* Support for the establishment of sample collection centres in underserved industrial clusters.
* Provision of technical guidance by QCI on accreditation principles, quality management systems, and relevant standards.
* Support for laboratories to achieve formal accreditation.
* **Knowledge and Awareness Initiatives**
* Execution of awareness campaigns for MSMEs regarding quality, testing, and applicable government schemes.
* Development of joint monitoring frameworks, research studies, white papers, and case studies.
* Creation of knowledge resources for various industry stakeholders across the value chain.
**Impact Analysis**
**Footwear and Leather Sector Workers**
**Impact**
Workers, including those who are semi-skilled or lack formal education, will have access to formal recognition of their skills through a new assessment and certification framework.
**Action Required**
Participate in skilling programmes and utilize Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathways to obtain personal certifications.
**MSMEs and Industry Professionals**
**Impact**
These stakeholders will benefit from improved quality management practices, better access to testing facilities, and increased awareness of government schemes.
**Action Required**
Engage with awareness initiatives and utilize technical guidance provided by QCI and FDDI to align with quality standards.
**Testing and Calibration Laboratories**
**Impact**
Laboratories will receive support for accreditation and infrastructure improvements, particularly in underserved clusters through new sample collection centres.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with FDDI during the laboratory mapping process and identify gaps to improve service delivery and accreditation status.
**QCI and FDDI**
**Impact**
Both organizations will collaborate as lead partners in driving the national quality and skilling agenda for the footwear sector.
**Action Required**
Jointly design training programmes, develop monitoring frameworks, and produce research-based knowledge resources for the industry.
Key Entities Referenced
Quality Council of India (QCI): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry providing technical guidance on accreditation, quality management systems, and certification for the leather and footwear sector.
Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI): An institute under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry responsible for cluster-specific skilling, training programmes, and the mapping of testing laboratories in the footwear industry.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The nodal department for the Quality Council of India within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, overseeing the manufacturing ecosystem.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): A certification pathway for semi-skilled and experienced workers to receive formal assessment of their industry-relevant skills.
Agra, Bahadurgarh, Ranipet, Chennai, Calicut and Kanpur: Key footwear manufacturing clusters identified as primary beneficiaries for capacity building and infrastructure development.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
QCI and FDDI Sign MoU to Strengthen Quality
and Skilling Ecosystem in Leather and Footwear
Sector
Agra, Chennai, Kanpur Among Key Footwear Clusters to
Benefit from QCI-FDDI Partnership
Partnership to Develop Multi-Level Assessment and
Certification Framework for Footwear Workers
प्रव तथ: 12 JUN 2026 7:33PM by PIB Delhi
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the quality, testing, accreditation and
skilling ecosystem in Bharat’s leather and footwear sector.
The collaboration aims to establish a structured framework for capacity building, certification, testing
infrastructure development and quality ecosystem strengthening across key footwear clusters, including
Agra, Bahadurgarh, Ranipet, Chennai, Calicut and Kanpur.
Through this partnership, QCI and FDDI will jointly design and deliver need-based, outcome-oriented
programmes for workers, MSMEs, supervisors, industry professionals and other stakeholders across the
leather and footwear value chain. The initiative will focus on enhancing workforce skills, promoting
personal certification, strengthening quality management practices, improving access to testing facilities
and supporting laboratories in achieving accreditation.
As part of the collaboration, QCI will provide technical guidance on accreditation principles, quality
management systems and relevant standards. It will also support awareness initiatives for MSMEs on
quality, testing, accreditation and applicable government schemes, while contributing to the development
of joint monitoring frameworks, research studies, white papers and case studies.
FDDI will lead cluster-specific skilling and training programmes tailored to the requirements of different
footwear hubs. It will also undertake mapping of testing and calibration laboratories, identify gaps in
laboratory access, support the establishment of sample collection centres in underserved clusters and
develop knowledge resources for industry stakeholders.
The MoU also envisages the creation of a multi-level worker assessment and personal certification
framework, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathways for semi-skilled and experienced
workers who possess industry-relevant skills but may lack formal educational qualifications.
The MoU was signed by Secretary General, QCI, Shri Chakravarthy T. Kannan, and Managing Director,
FDDI, Shri Vivek Sharma (IRS), on behalf of their respective organisations.The partnership is expected to contribute to the broader national vision of building globally competitive,
quality-driven and future-ready manufacturing ecosystems in Bharat, particularly for MSMEs and workers
engaged in the leather and footwear sector.
The Quality Council of India (QCI) is a premier autonomous body established by the Government of
India. QCI promotes a culture of quality across products, services and processes that impact citizens' lives.
As an independent institution, it facilitates credible third-party assessments through its constituent boards
and divisions. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, serves as the nodal department for QCI.
The Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Government of India, works in the areas of education, research, skill development, testing and
certification for the leather and footwear sector.
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Abhijith Narayanan/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2272310) आगंतुक पटल : 370
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही