SMEs to get extension for fee concessions on quality certification: Consumer Affairs Ministry
As India is pushing a quality-first approach to manufacturing, the additional secretary in the Consumer Affairs Ministry Bharat Khera has said that the government is set to extend quality certification fee concessions by three years beyond the current mid-2026 deadline to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Further, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has moved a proposal for the extension, which provides 80% fee reduction for micro units, 50% for small enterprises and 20% for medium-sized firms.
Moreover, Khera has stressed on shifting from compliance-driven to culture-driven quality standards to transform India’s Viksit Bharat manufacturing vision into reality. He noted that the quality is not a compliance cost but an enabler for market access.
Besides, he pointed that while the BIS has published over 23,000 standards with about 95% aligned with international benchmarks, the implementation challenges persist particularly for small and medium enterprises that account for 80% of BIS licensees.
