Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, declared quality as the core of India’s manufacturing push during the first National Quality Conclave on February 22, 2026.
He aligned “zero defect” (flawless products) and “zero effect” (minimal environmental impact) with Viksit Bharat 2047, targeting a $30-35 trillion economy via quality, sustainability, and inclusivity.
This philosophy, rooted in 2014 initiatives, aims for $2 trillion exports ($1T merchandise, $1T services) in 6-7 years.
ZED Certification MilestoneOver 500,000 MSMEs have adopted Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) standards, a scheme launched in 2016 by the Ministry of MSME to boost productivity, energy efficiency, and pollution control.
Goyal hailed this as a competitiveness enabler, with certifications graded from Bronze to Platinum, offering subsidies especially for women/SC/ST-owned units.
It promotes global standards without waste or ecological harm.
Five-Pillar Action PlanGoyal outlined strategies including strict SOPs from raw materials to finish; workforce skilling in textiles and beyond; global benchmarking; faster certifications; and advanced testing infrastructure with assured funding.
He criticized past “export quality” dualism, urging uniform high standards for domestic and global markets.
Support via Export Promotion Mission aids compliance with REACH, CBAM, and NTBs.
Broader Economic ImpactNine FTAs with 38 countries cover two-thirds of global GDP/trade, opening doors for textiles, leather, pharma if quality matches.
The Conclave’s consultations across 20+ cities and clusters feed into a National Quality Roadmap for manufacturing.
Goyal stressed replacing “chalta hai” with excellence, positioning India as a global quality guarantee.
