PADD PROJECTS

1. National Interpretation for GLOBALG.A.P.:
  • GLOBALG.A.P., owner of global standard for the certification of agricultural produce, and QCI entered into a MoU in May 2008. QCI constituted a National Technical Working Group (NTWG) – a mechanism to internalise local practices.
  • The national interpretation (NI) guidelines of India for Version 5.3 of GLOBALG.A.P. was accepted by the Technical Committee of GLOBALG.A.P. which is meant to benefit over 10,000 farmers in exports.
  • GRASP (Social Standard of GLOBALG.A.P.) NI documentation too approved by GLOBALG.A.P.
2. Study of Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) in India.
Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) are playing a very important role in creating awareness about the rights and responsibilities of ordinary citizens and they provide support to consumers for protecting their rights. Voluntary Consumer Organizations working in far- flung areas play the important role of fighting their battles for protecting their rights. VCOs have all attributes to ensure that while all consumers have access to essential goods and services as a legitimate need: state owned enterprises as well as corporations and private business entities have a responsibility towards providing the goods and services in proportion to payments made by the consumers.
3. GLP Cell – National GLP Compliance and Monitoring Authority (NGCMA)

National Good Laboratory Practices Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA) entered into a MoU with the Quality Council of India on 31 Dec. 2013 for the effective implementation of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) certification programme. The National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA) has been established by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India to fulfil India’s obligations in this field. For more details, you may visit: https://dst.gov.in/ngcma 

The PADD assists the GLP program of the NGCMA. Apart from giving them the operational support, PAD Division has undertaken an Impact Analysis of the National GLP Program, India which has been appreciated by Secretary DST and Head, NGCMA.

Additionally to fast track the operationalisation of the India GLP Program, an entire new web portal has been designed and implemented to receive all the applications digitally and process it to a stage where the recommendations are placed to the Technical Committee.

In order to have error-free coordination, mechanisms such as Regular Joint Coordination Committee meetings and Technical Committee meetings are convened to address issues of all the stakeholders. A series of sensitization workshops amongst the test facilities, government research institutions, and academia are held periodically

4. FAO SAARC GAP- Development of Standards and Scheme for Good Agriculture practice (GAP) implementation and certification in countries of SAARC:

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN identified QCI as their technical partner for developing a quality infrastructure on Good Agriculture Practice for all the SAARC member countries. The project was for “Development of Standards and Scheme for Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) Implementation and Certification in countries of SAARC”. The Scheme designed and developed by QCI was accepted and implemented in some select SAARC countries with the assistance of FAO of the UN. The SAARC Agriculture Center (SAC) has taken forward this initiative for improving the food hygiene and safety in the region.

The entire Scheme documents comprising technical GAP Standard, the Certification Body criteria, Certification Process and Accreditation / Approval criteria were presented and approved at the concluding workshop organized by FAO.

5. Promotion of Scheme for Evaluation and Certification of YOGA Professionals in Popularizing and Marketing of Yoga:
  • The Honorable Prime Minister had desired to spread India’s traditional knowledge worldwide with credible systems with specific reference to Yoga that should provide India leadership in assuring quality of Yoga practices across the world.  The Ministry of AYUSH in pursuance of the above and in the wake of declaration of International Yoga Day, identified Quality Council of India (QCI) to develop a Scheme for Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals recognizing that QCI has expertise in developing such quality frameworks based on international best practices.
  • QCI designed the Scheme for Voluntary certification of Yoga Professional by adopting the principles and requirements laid down in the international standard that was presented to the Ministry of AYUSH and was launched on 22 June 2015.
  • The scheme has been handed over to Ministry of AYUSH after successful grounding by QCI.
6. Quality Intervention by Certification of Yoga School in Popularizing and Marketing of Yoga by the Quality Council of India:
  • After having operated the Yoga Professionals’ Certification Scheme since June, 2015, the Steering Committee decided to launch the scheme for certification of Yoga Schools.  The Scheme was launched on the 28 March 2016.
  • The Scheme was designed and developed in consultation with the country’s top yoga experts from some of the oldest yoga institutions – such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Ramdev, Dr H. R. Nagendra, Prime Minister’s Yoga Guru, Sri O P Tiwari  of Kaivalyadham,  Hansaji of Yoga Institute, representatives of Sivananda school, Isha Foundation, and  Art of Living, and inputs from other organisations.
  • The scheme has been handed over to Ministry of AYUSH after successful grounding by QCI.

7. UNFSS – India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards (INPPSS):

  • With the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the UN Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).
  • The United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) is a joint initiative of five UN agencies (FAO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNEP and UNIDO).
  • In concurrence with the outcome of Standards Conclaves organized in 2014 and 2015, UNFSS and Quality Council of India (QCI) joined hands for setting up the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards (PSS).
  • The India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards (hereafter, the Indian PSS Platform) is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the world for addressing PSS issues in a national context.
  • The Platform is multi-stakeholder in nature and includes members of the Government, statutory agencies, Export Promotion Councils, commodity boards, industry associations, industries, producers, and consumers.
  • Promotional programmes on quality – awareness programmes on ISO standards, quality tools and techniques, building quality culture
  • A survey / study on identification of priority product groups for developing sustainability standards
  • World’s 1st Private Sustainability Std Platform, estd. with M/o Commerce & UN. Organized the International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in collaboration with the United Nations and Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Participation of 390+ delegates, 72 speakers and representation of across 40 countries, 8 UN agencies, with an overall outreach to 8000+ stakeholders.
  • QCI represented the Platform at the UNCTAD, T4SD of the ITC, UN, and at the National Stakeholder meetings in China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Philippines showcasing the activities undertaken in the sustainability studies.

HIGHLIGHTS: Tackles issues arising from private sustainability standards, Works with 9 international partners.

8. Capacity Building cum Sensitization (CB & S) for Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produce (VCSMPP):

The National Medicinal Plant Board, Ministry of AYUSH granted QCI the CB&S project for the marketing and promotion of the VCSMPP Scheme. Till date we have compiled 40 Package of Practices, conducted over 30 sensitisation workshops and presented the Scheme to the SAARC Agriculture Secretariat of the SAARC for considering its acceptance. 

The scheme was translated in 12 languages and is available on the QCI website. The 12 languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Mizo, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.

9. Voluntary Certification Scheme for Products with Geographical Indication:

Geographical Indication (GI) Goods are part of our collective and intellectual heritage of a country that need to be protected and promoted. PADD had submitted a complete Scheme document comprising 15 GI Products as a pilot to the Dept. for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry for promoting the uptake of GI products that are either agri-commodities or manufactured items.

Some of the GI goods covered are Nashik Grapes, Nagpur Oranges, Banglar Rosogolla, Kangra Tea, Kashmir Pashmina, Salem Fabric, Varanasi Gulabi Minakari, Bastar Dhokra, etc.

HIGHLIGHTS: Scheme for Certification of 15 Products with GI in Agriculture, Food and Textiles (Handicrafts) sectors.

10.  Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Sytems (Drones)

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a mechanism for cooperation with Quality Council of India to develop and operate Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CSUAS) as per the applicable rules, regulation, and procedures from time to time. The process ensures that the UAS meets applicable regulatory requirements and secure international equivalence. 

Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CSUAS) enhance the competitiveness of Indian industry by underlining the need for conformity assessment framework built on parameters like quality, reliability & safety of drones which was gazette notified by Ministry of Civil Aviation on 26th January 2022, in line with Drone Rules 2021 issued by Government of India.

11. Sustainable Development Goals Mapping and Analysis Program (SDG MAP)

Initiated the ‘Sustainable Development Goals Mapping and Analysis Programme’ (SDG MAP) which aims at organisations – public and private, and standards (with special focus on voluntary/private sustainability standards). The mapping of the UN SDGs to the standard translates the SDGs and the relevant targets under those SDGs into specific business actions applicable for the company by providing justification of the SDGs mapped.

The focus is also on identifying priority SDGs that are most relevant to the standard and the company and where there is greatest potential for impact. Thereafter, an impact study is carried out to understand and quantify the impact.

PAD Division has completed SDG Mapping of VRIKSH Standard of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and of Trinitea Framework of Solidaridad and ITA by studying the on-ground impact. QCI also submitted the impact study of the VRIKSH standard, bringing forth areas of opportunity and improveme

12. Global Timber Forum – Association Survey for Knowledge:

A study was conducted for the Global Timber Forum (GTF) in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Resources Institute (WRI) to understand the wood-based industry. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 associations in the wood-based industry to understand the challenges and gaps in the industry in India.

13. Regional Training SAC Training (SAARC GAP):

The SAARC Agriculture Centre approached QCI with a request to conduct SAARC Good Agricultural Practices training for all the SAARC member countries. The SAC aims to engage the Agriculture Ministry of each of the member countries for adaptation or adoption of the SAARC GAP. 

A regional training workshop was organized by SAC on SAARC GAP from August 27-30, 2019 for exploring the above with the member countries. Dr. S. K. Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, GoI was the chief guest of the event.

14. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Japan:

ITTO, a Japan-based intergovernmental agency, approached QCI to conduct a pan-India perception survey focused on the furniture industry. The activity involved interaction with government and private associations to understand the current ecosystem for enhancing furniture exports.

This is a study to understand on the furniture industry specifically made of wood and those that are categorized as wooden handicraft furniture. 

The focus is on associations, clusters and consortiums involved in products made of wood raw materials, including logs, sawnwood, mouldings, veneer and plywood specifically covering manufacturing and retailing, and joinery and engineered wood products. 

The envisaged outcomes would address issues prevailing in the distribution channels and factors affecting competitiveness in this industry including the raw material importers that gives an enhanced insight on trading relationships.

15. Benchmarking IndGAP to GLOBALG.A.P.:
  • The promotion and marketing of IndGAP is undertaken with close engagement with the stakeholders – principally DoC, APEDA and Spices Board.
  • QCI has signed an MoU with APEDA for funding the Benchmarking proposal of IndGAP with GLOBALG.A.P.
  • GLOBALG.A.P. is a globally recognized Scheme that has a set of standards for good agricultural practices (G.A.P.). The standards ensure greater efficiency in production, improves business performance, and benefits farmers, retailers, and consumers throughout the world.
  • APEDA has granted QCI (PADD) a project for benchmarking IndGAP to GLOBALG.A.P.
  • Benchmarking would result in improvement in quality of produce, awareness regarding good agricultural practices and in reduction in the transaction cost for exports.
16. Implementation of IndGAP Project for strengthening quality and safety in the spices sector:
  • Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India) is the flagship organization for the development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices.
  • MoU with the Spices Board has been signed for approval for implementing IndGAP project in the spices sector.
  • Spices Board has granted QCI (PADD) a project for implementation of IndGAP for carrying out promotion and marketing of the IndGAP Scheme
  • Project certification in IndGAP for spices would result in overall improvement of quality of produce, awareness regarding good agricultural practice and reduction in the transaction cost for exports.

17. International Crops Research Institute for The Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT):

MoU has been signed with ICRISAT for design and development of certification Scheme on ‘Smart Food’ by Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, Director General and Dr. Ravi P. Singh, SG, QCI.

18. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC – Unit of NTRO, GOI):
  • Development of Conformity Assessment System and Resource for Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) for establishing rigor in the critical sector entities as defined in IT Act.
19. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
  • The UNDP has approached QCI to help them with the design and development of Scheme for Access and Benefit Sharing as per the National Biodiversity Act 2002.
20. Archaeological Survey of India:
  • Research study on categorization of work areas and competency mapping of traditional crafts-persons in line with Prime Minister (PM) Vishwakarma scheme to identify and incentive traditional knowledge.
21. Archaeological Survey of India:
  • Accessibility Mapping and Ranking (Star rating) of Historical monuments to be compliant with universal design scheme for accessibility by differently abled individual, senior citizens women and children.
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