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Context

• The Quality Council of India (QCI) celebrated World Accreditation Day today, with events held in over 20 cities across the country.

Details

• The central event was held in New Delhi, focusing on the theme "Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future."
• This theme underscores the forward-looking vision of accreditation and its critical role in building a quality-centric future 

Accreditation Infrastructure in India

Main Bodies

India's accreditation infrastructure is robust, comprising two main bodies:

• NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories): Responsible for accrediting laboratories.
• NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies): Responsible for accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs).

International Recognition

Both NABL and NABCB are recognized internationally, being signatories to:

• Multilateral Recognition Arrangements of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
• International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This international recognition ensures that Indian accredited entities are accepted globally, facilitating international trade and cooperation.

Accredited Entities

• NABL: Over 8000 laboratories are accredited under NABL, ensuring high standards in testing and calibration across various fields.
• NABCB: Over 260 Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are accredited under NABCB, which helps in certifying quality across different sectors.

About the Quality Council of India (QCI)

• The Quality Council of India (QCI) was established in 1997 as a public-private partnership, modeled after the system in the Netherlands at the time. It was a collaborative initiative between the Government of India and three key industry associations:
• Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
• QCI was set up under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, with the mission to provide accreditation services across various sectors, including products, services, and personnel. It operates independently under the guidance of its Governing Body, which includes equal representation from the government, industry, and industry associations.
• Notably, QCI is a self-sustaining non-profit organization that does not receive funds or financial support from the government, operating under its own set of rules.
• QCI's responsibilities encompass project management, performance monitoring of various cells, data analytics, and tactical research. Key duties involve creating timelines, assessing requirements, coordinating with stakeholders, formulating methodologies, and overseeing the execution and mobilization of projects.
• Among its notable initiatives, QCI conducts extensive surveys to measure the success rate of the Swachh Bharat Mission and has introduced a voluntary certification program to standardize yoga practices worldwide.
• The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister of India.

Role and Responsibilities

• Apex Organization: QCI is the apex body responsible for establishing and operating the third-party national accreditation system in India.
• Improving Quality Across Sectors: QCI works towards improving quality in various sectors, ensuring that Indian products and services meet high standards.
• Advisory Role: QCI advises the government and other stakeholders on all matters concerning quality, influencing policy and decision-making processes to promote quality standards nationwide.

By celebrating World Accreditation Day, QCI emphasizes the importance of accreditation in enhancing the quality of life and supporting India's strategic goals for future developm

India’s National Accreditation System Ranked 5th Globally

Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021 Rankings

• India’s national accreditation system under the Quality Council of India (QCI) has been ranked 5th in the world.
• The GQII ranks 184 economies based on their quality infrastructure (QI).
• India’s overall QI system is ranked 10th, with the standardization system (under BIS) at 9th and the metrology system (under NPL-CSIR) at 21st.

Quality Infrastructure (QI) in India

• QI includes metrology, standardization, accreditation, and conformity assessment services, which are essential for international trade.
• In India:
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL-CSIR): National metrology institute.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): National standards body.
• Quality Council of India (QCI): Custodian of the national accreditation system through its constituent boards.

Components of the National Accreditation System

• National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB): Provides accreditation to certification, inspection, and validation/verification bodies.
• National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL): Provides accreditation to testing, calibration, and medical laboratories.
• Both NABCB and NABL are signatories to the Multilateral Recognition Arrangements of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), ensuring international equivalence and acceptance.

Impact and Importance

• Accreditation establishes the competence and credibility of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) performing testing, certification, and inspection.
• The rise in India’s ranking is attributed to the steady growth of CABs under the national accreditation system, including testing & medical labs, product certification bodies, and management systems certification bodies.

About the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII)

• The GQII measures the development of countries' QI using a formula that calculates scores based on sub-rankings for metrology, standards, and accreditation.
• The top 25 QI systems are primarily located in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, with exceptions such as India, Brazil, Australia, Turkey, Mexico, and South Africa.
• The 2021 rankings are based on data collected till the end of December 2021, analyzed through 2022, and supported by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.

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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. The Quality Council of India (QCI) is a collaborative initiative between the Government of India and which of the following industry associations? 1.Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) 2.Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 3. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) 4.  Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 1, 2 and 4 only c) 1, 3 and 4 only d) 2, 3 and 4 only Answer: a) 1, 2 and 3 only