Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has undergone a major transformation over the past decade, with a sharp expansion in its scope, technical reach and support for MSMEs.

 

Replying during the question hours in Rajya Sabha, the Minister said the government undertook major reforms in 2015, keeping in view the growing importance of standards and quality in manufacturing and trade. 

 

He underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently stressed the need for high-quality products, encouraging manufacturers, traders and businesses to focus on better standards.

 

Referring to the Prime Minister’s well-known slogan of “Zero Defect, Zero Effect”, the Minister said the emphasis on quality has driven a major expansion in BIS over the last 11 years.

 

The Minister further said that BIS currently operates 10 conformity assessment schemes, covering seven product certification schemes, along with one each for process, systems and services. 

 

On support for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, the Minister said the government has provided substantial fee concessions and handholding support to the sector.