Union Minister Piyush Goyal delivered a compelling address during the 77th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), advocating for India to take a lead role in establishing global standards. Goyal urged BIS not merely to adopt standards but to ensure compatibility with international benchmarks, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder consultations, especially with industry representatives.
Key Points from Piyush Goyal’s Address:
- International Compatibility: Piyush Goyal stressed that Indian standards should align with international benchmarks, particularly in areas such as lifts, air filters, and medical items. He underscored the importance of extensive stakeholder consultations and collaboration with industry representatives to achieve this goal.
- BIS’s Role in Hallmarking: Goyal applauded BIS for its efforts in hallmarking jewelry, covering 343 districts. He highlighted that over 4.3 lakh articles are hallmarked daily, and 90% of purchased jewelry is now hallmarked.
- Significant Growth in Quality Control Orders: Goyal noted the substantial increase in Quality Control Orders (QCOs) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. From 14 QCOs covering 106 products in 2014, the number has risen to 156 QCOs encompassing 672 products. Piyush Goyal emphasized the role of QCOs in reducing toy imports by 52% from 2015 to 2023.
- Zero Defect, Zero Effect Vision: Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Zero Defect, Zero Effect” given nine years ago, Goyal highlighted its adoption, making India more quality-conscious. The vision emphasizes producing high-quality, sustainable, and eco-friendly products with zero climate impact.
- Quality as a Cost-Effective Factor: Goyal emphasized that quality is cost-effective, benefiting both industry and consumers. He termed quality as a non-negotiable factor and praised BIS for generating awareness about its benefits across consumers, industries, exporters, and importers.
- Role of Young Ambassadors: Goyal urged the younger generation to become ambassadors of quality and contribute to the development of a quality-conscious India. He suggested promoting e-learning and enhancing the PARAKH initiative in colleges and universities.
Towards a Transparent Ecosystem:
Piyush Goyal highlighted BIS’s commitment to transparency and announced an investment of Rs 40 Crores for setting up 21 labs dedicated to cotton testing. He encouraged industry participation in identifying areas requiring testing, assuring them of ample funds and the need for a transparent ecosystem and high surveillance for effective delivery.
Event Highlights:
The event, attended by Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey and other dignitaries, featured technical sessions with diverse experts, policymakers, industry professionals, consumer groups, academicians, and representatives from various sectors. The occasion celebrated BIS’s contributions and outlined a vision for India as a standard-setting pioneer on the global stage.
