India's zero defect, zero effect and equitable opportunity Vision
23rd February 2026
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry has emphasised that quality must become the defining mantra of India’s manufacturing and export ecosystem, asserting that Prime Minister’s vision of 'zero defect, zero effect' will serve as the cornerstone of India`s growth story in the Amrit Kaal
Aligning the initiative with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Minister said India’s ambition to become a $30–35 trillion economy by 2047 rests on three pillars — zero defect (quality), zero effect (sustainability), and equitable opportunity (inclusivity)
Addressing the first National Quality Conclave, organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in partnership with the Quality Council of India (QCI), the Minister underscored that no country can progress merely as a consumer; it must establish itself as a globally recognised producer of high-quality goods and services
He emphasised that Brand India must stand for quality, reliability and trust. Noting that India has been the world’s fastest-growing large economy for the past four years and is poised to become the third-largest GDP in the next two to two-and-a-half years, he said the country’s $2 trillion export target — comprising $1 trillion in merchandise and $1 trillion in services within the next six to seven years — can only be achieved through uncompromising quality standards
Highlighting India’s expanding trade outreach, the Minister said that nine Free Trade Agreements finalised in the past three to three-and-a-half years with 38 developed countries now cover nearly two-thirds of global GDP and trade. These agreements, he noted, open new opportunities in sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals, provided Indian products consistently meet the highest global benchmarks. He reiterated that India’s current share in global trade remains modest, even in competitive and labour-intensive sectors, and urged industry to leverage new market access opportunities created through these agreements
The Minister assured that funds would not be a constraint for establishing high-quality testing infrastructure. He encouraged industry to seek support under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) for international approvals and compliance requirements, including REACH regulations, CBAM verification, SPS and TBT measures, and other non-tariff barriers. He stated that government support would particularly benefit micro and small enterprises in accessing global markets and meeting international standards
The National Quality Conclave represents a first-of-its-kind national initiative structured around extensive on-ground consultations with industry and MSMEs to directly capture shop-floor and supply-chain insights and integrate them into policy deliberations and the development of sector-specific quality roadmaps. Series 1 of the Conclave brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, regulators and key stakeholders from four priority manufacturing sectors — textiles, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals — identified for their strong export potential, extensive MSME participation and contribution to employment generation
The Conclave adopted a sector-differentiated, evidence-driven three-stage engagement process over two months across more than twenty cities to ensure actionable outcomes