India should be a standard setter, not follower: Nirmala

india should be setting quality standards for products rather than following global norms, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday, stressing on timely dissemination of regulations for better implementation.

Addressing the 4th National Standards Conclave here, she called on the industry to produce quality products at an affordable price so that import of cheaper products can be contained.

"India should be setting standards rather than following the standards which are being set," Sitharaman said, adding that the country should have active participation in any global debate on setting standards. The minister said technology will play a very critical role in standard setting and conformity assessment and there is a need to factor this in.

Launching a portal of standards developed jointly by the commerce ministry and industry body CII, Sitharaman said this website will be providing all the information relating to standards and conformity assessment.

"But I am also a bit impatient (as to) how it will reach people who will have to follow, conform and implement these standards," she added.

A phone-based alert, adaptable to regional languages, has to be prepared so that conformity to these standards become effective, she suggested.

"The farmer today is not against conforming to the global standards. He is very keen on it, but information should reach on time. Institutions cannot any longer seek cover that trickle-down does take time," she cautioned.

Technology should be used to disseminate standards to implement them without time lag, the minister added.