The Quality Council of India (QCI) is a pioneering experiment of the Government of India in setting up organizations in partnership with the Indian industry.
Since 1992, a need has been felt for the establishment of an accreditation body in the country to establish internationally acceptable mechanisms for recognition of conformity assessment results. As regards laboratories, an accreditation body under the Ministry of Science & Technology was already functioning. A committee which included various interested ministries and stakeholders including industries was established to make suitable recommendations. The work was coordinated by the then Department of Industries (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) and the recommendations were submitted to the Cabinet in 1996. Key recommendations included the Need for establishing an organization jointly by the Government and the industry and the need for the organization to be self-sustaining and be away from the government.