**Executive Summary**
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding on July 9, 2026, to enhance the competitiveness and market access of Indian MSMEs. The partnership focuses on integrating quality certifications with digital commerce platforms and strengthening testing infrastructure. A Joint Coordination Committee will be established to meet quarterly to monitor progress and guide the implementation of these joint initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Integration of Initiatives**
* **Unified Support Framework:** Combines QCI’s expertise in quality and accreditation with NSIC’s MSME support ecosystem.
* **Scheme Convergence:** Integrates the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme with the Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS).
* **Digital Market Access:** Facilitates MSME onboarding onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) via the TEAM Initiative and provides AI-enabled product cataloguing.
* **Export Promotion:** Uses dedicated digital platforms and the MSME Global Mart to boost international trade opportunities for certified enterprises.
**Infrastructure and Capacity Building**
* **Accreditation Support:** QCI will assist in obtaining NABL accreditation for NSIC testing facilities.
* **Institutional Strengthening:** Implementation of NABET-led assessment and accreditation for NSIC training centers and laboratories.
* **Skill Development:** Expansion of customized capacity-building programs for MSMEs and various training institutions.
**Governance and Implementation**
* **Joint Coordination Committee (JCC):** A dedicated committee featuring representatives from both QCI and NSIC will oversee the partnership.
* **Monitoring and Duration:** The JCC will meet every quarter to identify new collaboration areas during the five-year tenure of the MoU.
* **Vision Alignment:** The collaboration is designed to support the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)**
**Impact**
MSMEs gain enhanced credibility through ZED certification and improved access to domestic and global markets via digital platforms like ONDC and MSME Global Mart.
**Action Required**
Enterprises should adopt ZED certification standards and utilize the integrated digital cataloguing and registration services provided under the partnership.
**National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)**
**Impact**
The organization’s testing facilities and training centers will receive formal accreditation (NABL/NABET), enhancing their institutional capabilities and service quality.
**Action Required**
NSIC must collaborate with QCI to undergo assessments, upgrade laboratory standards, and nominate representatives for the Joint Coordination Committee.
**Quality Council of India (QCI)**
**Impact**
QCI expands the reach of its quality infrastructure (NABL, NABET, and NABCB) across the vast MSME sector, advancing the National Quality Campaign.
**Action Required**
QCI must provide technical expertise for certification and accreditation while participating in quarterly JCC meetings to monitor implementation.
**Training Institutions and Laboratories**
**Impact**
These entities will benefit from standardized assessments and specialized capacity-building programs to improve their training delivery and testing accuracy.
**Action Required**
Institutions must align their processes with NABET/NABL standards and participate in the newly established capacity-building frameworks.
Key Entities Referenced
Quality Council of India (QCI): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry providing expertise in quality, accreditation, and certification to strengthen MSME standards.
National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC): A Government of India enterprise providing an MSME support ecosystem, training infrastructure, and digital market access through platforms like MSME Global Mart.
MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme: A national initiative promoting 'Zero Defect Zero Effect' manufacturing practices, central to the quality standards integration under the MoU.
TEAM Initiative: An initiative focused on facilitating digital market access for MSMEs by onboarding them onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
Joint Coordination Committee (JCC): The governing body established under the MoU to monitor progress, identify collaboration areas, and guide the implementation of joint QCI-NSIC initiatives.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Quality Council of India and National Small
Industries Corporation Sign MoU to Strengthen
Quality, Competitiveness and Market Access for
MSMEs
QCI-NSIC Partnership to Integrate ZED Certification, Digital
Market Access and MSME Support Initiatives
QCI and NSIC to Set Up Joint Coordination Committee to
Guide Implementation of Joint Initiatives
प्रव तथ: 09 JUL 2026 5:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) today
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative ecosystem aimed at
strengthening quality, competitiveness and market access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) across the country. The partnership brings together QCI's expertise in quality, accreditation and
certification with NSIC's extensive MSME support ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of globally
recognised quality standards and enhance the growth of Indian enterprises.
The collaboration seeks to integrate key national initiatives, including the MSME Sustainable (ZED)
Certification Scheme, MSME Global Mart, the TEAM Initiative and the Single Point Registration Scheme
(SPRS), to enable MSMEs to leverage the strengths of both organisations through a unified support
framework. It will facilitate wider adoption of Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification, improve
digital market access, strengthen testing and accreditation infrastructure, and expand capacity-building
opportunities for MSMEs and training institutions.
Under the partnership, ZED-certified MSMEs will receive enhanced opportunities for digital commerce
through MSME Global Mart, onboarding on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) under the
TEAM Initiative, AI-enabled product cataloguing, and export promotion through dedicated digital
platforms. The collaboration will also strengthen convergence between ZED Certification and NSIC's
Single Point Registration Scheme, support NABL accreditation for NSIC testing facilities, and enable
NABET-led assessment, accreditation and customised capacity-building programmes for NSIC training
centres and laboratories.
To ensure effective implementation of the partnership, QCI and NSIC will constitute a Joint Coordination
Committee (JCC) comprising representatives from both organisations. The committee will meet every
quarter to identify new areas of collaboration, monitor progress and guide the implementation of joint
initiatives during the five-year tenure of the MoU.The partnership reflects the shared commitment of QCI and NSIC to fostering a culture of quality,
innovation and continuous improvement across India's MSME sector. By strengthening quality
infrastructure, improving market access and enhancing institutional capabilities, the collaboration aims to
support the growth of globally competitive enterprises and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The MoU was signed at the QCI Office, World Trade Centre, New Delhi, in the presence of Chairman-
cum-Managing Director, NSIC, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya; Senior Director and Head, National
Division for Industry Excellence (NDIE), QCI, Dr. A. Raj; Chief Executive Officer, National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Dr. Ramanand N. Shukla; Chief
Executive Officer, National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET), Dr. Varinder S.
Kanwar; and senior officials from both organisations.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NSIC, Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya said that MSMEs are central to
India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. He said the partnership with QCI brings together quality,
market access and institutional support to create greater opportunities for MSMEs to enhance their
competitiveness, expand into new markets and achieve sustainable growth. He added that the
collaboration would help build a stronger ecosystem that empowers enterprises to compete confidently in
both domestic and global markets.
Senior Director and Head, National Division for Industry Excellence (NDIE), and Chief Executive
Officer, National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP), QCI, Dr. A. Raj said the collaboration harnesses
the complementary strengths of QCI and NSIC to accelerate the adoption of quality across India's MSME
ecosystem. He said that by integrating ZED Certification with QCI's quality infrastructure, including
NABL, NABET and the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), while
leveraging NSIC's outreach and support mechanisms, the partnership would enhance MSME
competitiveness, strengthen quality consciousness and further advance QCI's National Quality Campaign.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2282891) आगंतुक पटल : 449
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