Quality Council of India (QCI):

• Establishment: QCI was established in 1997 as an autonomous body under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• Objective: QCI aims to lead the nation's quality movement and promote excellence in various fields such as manufacturing, services, education, healthcare, and environment.
• Functions: It develops quality standards, promotes quality awareness, and accredits organizations across different sectors through its various constituent boards and divisions.
• Certification and Accreditation: QCI offers certifications such as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, ISO 22000, and accreditation services to various industries and institutions to enhance their competitiveness and credibility.
• Role in Digital Initiatives: QCI plays a significant role in supporting digital initiatives by ensuring quality standards and certifications in digital services and products. 

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):

• Initiative: ONDC is an initiative of the Government of India launched under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to promote digital commerce and empower small businesses.
• Objective: It aims to create an open and interoperable digital commerce network that provides opportunities for MSMEs to participate in digital commerce and reach a wider market.
• Features: ONDC facilitates the development of digital commerce infrastructure, including standards for data exchange, identity verification, and payment mechanisms.
• Partnerships: ONDC collaborates with various stakeholders, including government agencies, industry bodies, technology providers, and financial institutions, to build and operate the digital commerce ecosystem.
• Benefits: The initiative aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in digital commerce while promoting fair competition and consumer protection.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following statements regarding the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is/are correct?

1.QCI was established in 1997 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

2.ONDC aims to promote digital commerce and empower small businesses through an open and interoperable digital commerce network.

3.The collaboration between QCI and ONDC has resulted in the introduction of the DigiReady Certification (DRC) portal to assess the digital readiness of MSMEs.

4.QCI's primary function is to provide financial assistance to MSMEs participating in digital commerce initiatives.

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 2 and 4 only

d) 1, 3, and 4 only

Answer: b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

• QCI was established in 1997 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry:

• • This statement is incorrect. The Quality Council of India (QCI) was indeed established in 1997; however, it operates as an autonomous body under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is not directly under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• ONDC aims to promote digital commerce and empower small businesses through an open and interoperable digital commerce network:

• • This statement is correct. The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its primary objective is to create an open and interoperable digital commerce network that provides opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in digital commerce and reach a wider market. ONDC aims to empower small businesses by providing them access to digital commerce platforms and enabling them to leverage technology for growth and expansion.
• The collaboration between QCI and ONDC has resulted in the introduction of the DigiReady Certification (DRC) portal to assess the digital readiness of MSMEs:

• • This statement is correct. The collaboration between QCI and ONDC has led to the introduction of the DigiReady Certification (DRC) portal. The DRC portal aims to assess and certify the digital readiness of MSME entities, particularly for becoming sellers on the ONDC platform. Through the DRC portal, MSMEs can evaluate their digital capabilities and readiness, thereby empowering them to seamlessly transition into sellers on the ONDC platform and participate effectively in digital commerce.
• QCI's primary function is to provide financial assistance to MSMEs participating in digital commerce initiatives:
• • This statement is incorrect. While QCI plays a significant role in promoting quality standards and certifications, its primary function is not to provide financial assistance to MSMEs participating in digital commerce initiatives. Instead, QCI focuses on leading the nation's quality movement, promoting excellence in various sectors, developing quality standards, promoting quality awareness, and accrediting organizations across different sectors to enhance their competitiveness and credibility.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

b) 2 and 3 only