UT Chandigarh Chief Secretary Directs Implementation of Quality Standards Across Departments
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 15, 2025
In a move aimed at strengthening quality governance and consumer protection, the State Level Committee on Standardization convened under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma in Chandigarh. The meeting focused on the adoption and implementation of Indian Standards to establish a robust quality ecosystem across departments in the Union Territory.
A comprehensive presentation was delivered by Sneh Lata, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for North India, highlighting the importance of standardization in public service delivery.
The Chief Secretary directed all public-facing departments to obtain the Anti-Bribery Management System (ISO 37001) certification to promote transparency and ethical practices. He also emphasized the adoption of the Service Quality Management System (SQMS) across all departments to improve service delivery.
The Municipal Corporation and Estate Office were specifically instructed to implement a Record Management System, especially to streamline old records for better administrative efficiency.
Verma lauded the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh for initiating the process to obtain certification for the Piped Drinking Water Management System. Once achieved, Chandigarh would become the first city in the country to hold this certification, ensuring that the potable water supplied complies with IS 10500 standards, thereby safeguarding public health.
In another significant directive, the Chief Engineer of UT Chandigarh was asked to enforce city-specific Building Byelaws (SP 73) developed by BIS and implement an Energy Management System.
To facilitate capacity building, all departments were asked to nominate nodal officers (not below the rank of Head of Department), who will undergo training through BIS to promote a quality-centric work culture and improve public satisfaction.
Verma also called for strict adherence to all Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the government. The Secretary, Industries was directed to organise awareness programs targeting industries, particularly MSMEs, to educate them on quality standards and compliance.
Additionally, departments were instructed to create public awareness around the BIS Care App, which helps verify the authenticity of products and precious metals like gold and silver.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Chandigarh Administration, including the Home Secretary, Finance Secretary, Secretary Food and Supplies, and representatives from industry, consumer organizations, and academia.