Compulsory quality norms for asbestos cement products; Made in India

23 May 2024 CW Team

The government has introduced compulsory quality standards for asbestos or fibre cement-based products to limit the influx of inferior goods and promote domestic manufacturing. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a notification titled 'Asbestos or Fibre Cement based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024' on March 6, establishing that products must bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark to be produced, sold, traded, imported, or stocked.

The order will take effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette. To support small and micro industries and ensure smooth compliance with the quality control order (QCO), concessions have been provided in terms of deadlines.

Small industries have been granted an additional nine months, while micro industries have been given an additional 12 months to meet the standards. Violation of the BIS Act can lead to imprisonment for up to two years or a minimum fine of Rs 2 lakh for the first offence.

The DPIIT is actively undertaking initiatives, including the development of QCOs, to enhance awareness of quality standards among both users and manufacturers. Mandatory QCOs play a crucial role in preventing the import of sub-standard products, curbing unfair trade practices, and ensuring consumer safety and environmental protection. Previously, similar orders have been issued for various goods, such as smart meters, welding rods, cookware, fire extinguishers, ceiling fans, and gas stoves. (Source: Economic Times)

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

India Expands Semiconductor Training To 500 Institutions

Under the Chips to Startups programme of the India Semiconductor Mission, the Union minister responsible for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT reported notable progress in talent development. He indicated that over the past four years substantial steps have been taken towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. World-class EDA tools have been deployed in 315 academic institutions across the country to provide students with practical exposure to chip design. These EDA tools are supported by leading global firms and are accessible t..

Delhi Institutions Support India Semiconductor Mission

The Government of India has prioritised talent development through training, upskilling and workforce development under the Chips to Startups initiative of the India Semiconductor Mission, with officials noting progress in four years towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. Electronic design automation tools provided by Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys and AMD have been deployed in 315 academic institutions, enabling students to gain practical chip design experience. Chips have been fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali, a..

NHA Announces Winners Of NHCX Hackathon At IIT Hyderabad

The National Health Authority (NHA) has concluded the NHCX Hackathon under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to stimulate innovation around the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX). The winning teams presented their solutions at the NHCX Innovation Meet held at IIT Hyderabad during a two-day event in March 2026 that also served as the hackathon grand finale. The hackathon itself ran from 22 to 28 February 2026 and aimed to accelerate paperless, transparent claims processing across India. The event was organised with a range of ecosystem partners, including the Insurance Regulatory a..