India urged to deepen Quality Control Order reforms to meet shifting global trade demands

India's Quality Control Order framework requires a more ambitious overhaul if the country is to capitalise on the sweeping realignment now reshaping global trade, according to growing calls from within manufacturing and policy circles.

The QCO regime, designed to set minimum standards for goods produced and sold in India, has been credited with lifting domestic manufacturing quality. However, critics argue that its current form remains too rigid and unevenly applied to serve as a genuine springboard for export competitiveness.

With supply chains worldwide being reconfigured and trading partners reassessing their sourcing strategies, India faces a narrow window to position itself as a credible alternative production hub. A bolder reset of the QCO architecture, one that balances consumer protection with industrial ambition, is seen as central to seizing that opportunity.