Scrapping quality norms

Withdrawal of those on inputs will boost manufacturing

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THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION to scrap quality control orders (QCOs) for 14 petrochemical products, seven products such as tin, aluminium,lead, zinc, nickel, and copper, and suspend those on 55 steel products should be welcomed. More will follow. This move comes amidst efforts to boost the competitiveness of India's manufacturing and exports in a challenging geopolitical environment. QCOs were introduced to ensure the quality of both domestically manufactured and imported products. They have sharply risen to 790 today from 88 in 2019,a period that has seen a sharp rise in tariffs, Press Note 3 restrictions on Chinese investments, and efforts to curb cheaper imports from the mainland and policies promoting import substitution. QCOs are concentrated in intermediates and capital goods and their rapid and widespread implementation have had unintended consequences like supply chain disruptions, higher input costs, and compliance burdens for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).Areport of a committee headed by NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba suggested the scrapping of more tha