Rajiv Gauba’s Intervention Accelerates Reform as Industry Calls for Rationalisation of QCO Regime
In a major pro-industry move, the Government of India has withdrawn 14 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), offering significant relief to manufacturers, MSMEs, importers and downstream industries across plastics, chemicals, fibres and intermediates.
This decision—hailed as a historic regulatory correction—is being viewed as a transformative step toward lowering compliance burden, improving raw-material availability, and strengthening India’s competitiveness in the global value chain.
A Turning Point Driven by Stakeholder Dialogue
According to News365 Times sources, the breakthrough follows a crucial industry-government consultation convened recently by Mr Rajiv Gauba, IAS, former Cabinet Secretary and now full-time Member, NITI Aayog.
During the meeting, leading industry associations, manufacturers, chemical processors, and MSME representatives highlighted the growing challenges arising from the expanding list of mandatory QCOs—many of which covered raw materials and intermediates rather than end-use consumer products.
Rajiv Gauba’s Key Intervention
At the stakeholder meeting, Mr Rajiv Gauba listened to detailed representations and concerns, following which the consensus was clear:
“QCOs, though well-intentioned, have become cumbersome and significantly increased compliance costs—especially for MSMEs. There is an urgent need to rationalise and streamline the QCO framework.”
The withdrawal of 14 QCOs, experts say, is a direct and timely response to these deliberations—reflecting the government’s commitment to making regulation smarter, simpler, and industry-friendly.
A Big Boost for MSMEs & Downstream Industries
The rescinded QCOs covered key inputs such as:
- PTA
- Ethylene Glycol
- Polypropylene, Polyethylene, PVC
- ABS, Polycarbonate
- Polyester fibres and yarns
These materials form the backbone of multiple sectors including textiles, plastics, packaging, engineering components, automotive parts, infrastructure, and mining equipment manufacturing.
With the removal of mandatory BIS certification for these inputs, companies expect:
- Lower input cost
- Smoother imports & faster clearances
- Greater availability of essential raw materials
- Improved working capital cycles
- Better export competitiveness for Indian manufacturers
This reform comes at a time when India is aiming to position itself as a global manufacturing hub under the Make in India and Viksit Bharat vision.
Industry Leaders Welcome the Breakthrough
Reacting to the development, Mr Mohan Shukla, Chairman, Board of Governors, News365 Times, remarked:
“India Inc is keenly awaiting a formal and detailed announcement from BIS. This will significantly boost Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Execution for large-scale projects in India. Rationalising QCOs is essential for reducing project delays and ensuring smoother industrial operations.”
He further added that MSMEs, which often struggle with certification costs, repeated testing, and documentation overload, will be the biggest beneficiaries of this reform.
A Strategic Shift Toward Smart Regulation
Experts believe the move signals a broader shift in India’s regulatory philosophy—from blanket standardisation to targeted, risk-based quality oversight.
Globally, mandatory standards are typically reserved for consumer safety, critical infrastructure, or environmental protection, not for basic industrial intermediates.
The government’s decision aligns India with these global best practices and strengthens confidence among investors and multinational supply chains.
The Road Ahead
While the withdrawal of these 14 QCOs is a major milestone, industry stakeholders continue to advocate:
- A full review of remaining QCOs
- Greater stakeholder consultation
- Clear guidelines on classification of inputs vs. finished goods
-
Time-bound implementation roadmaps
As India continues its march toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, such reforms will play a decisive role in building an environment that is predictable, competitive, and innovation-driven—empowering businesses, accelerating growth, and enabling the next phase of industrial transformation.
