Strength and character of a nation is often exemplified by the standards it sets for the quality of its products and services, Piyush Goyal said

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has said that it is time to embark on the mission of ‘One Nation One Standard’ and make India the leader in setting global benchmarks in setting standards.

While all areas of production and services should be included in this national mission, bringing a national uniformity and standardization in all kinds of public procurement and tendering can be an immediate deliverable, Goyal said, reviewing the work of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Saturday.

The minister stressed that the strength and character of the nation are often exemplified by the standards it sets for the quality of its products and services.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that BIS should explore International partnerships and associations to achieve synergy in the field.

He said that lab testing in India should be world standard. Modern equipment and the latest technologies should be used there. Gap analysis of BIS and Government labs be taken up on a priority basis as well, he added.

Referring to the issue of different Institutions and PSUs having a variety of non-uniform standards, Goyal said that effort should be made to merge different standards under one standard as much as possible.

The Minister said that Industry should be invited for more dialogue, participation, and collaboration in this mission of "one nation one standard". The process of granting certification should be kept as simple as possible and duplication of work should be avoided.

Further, he said that we should aim to be the world leader in having maximum industrial products under Indian Standards and no one should feel the need to go abroad to get a quality certification.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs and BIS among others. A detailed presentation was made by BIS about various areas of the progress being made.