Delhi – Prime Minister's Office, South Block – April 20th, 1949
In the PM office, Arjun was going through some documents regarding the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautical Limited) when T. T. Krishnamachari walked in, looking extremely pleased with himself. The industries minister was carrying a stack of telexes and shipping manifests.
"Prime Minister," Krishnamachari said, practically beaming, "the first shipments to America have just left the Kolkata and Bombay ports."
He spread the manifests across Arjun's desk. "As of now, we're shipping everything that comes under Light Industrial and Agro-Processed Goods. Textiles like uniforms, socks, military tents. Jute products, leather goods. Household items like cutlery and steel vessels.
Processed agricultural exports like tea, coffee, canned fruits, spices. Even basic industrial inputs like screws and nails."
Krishnamachari was clearly excited. "And since the local partners of the American companies in JV had strictly followed the guidelines, the quality of products meets their standards. Our industrialists have really stepped up."
Arjun listened, feeling satisfied. This was exactly what he'd been working toward. India as a good-quality, low-cost industrial supplier to global markets. The economic engine was starting to run properly.
It was exactly as East Asia's initial export drive, which relied on light consumer before advancing into heavier industries in original timeline.
But something about Krishnamachari's mention of "meeting their standards" triggered a thought. In the original timeline, India had struggled for decades to establish proper national quality controls. Substandard products, inconsistent quality, no unified standards.
It had hurt both domestic industry and exports, destroying trust and holding back growth. The Indian Standards Institution had come years late, fighting corruption and resistance the whole way.
Right now they were doing well because they were following American standards for exports. But India needed its own quality framework, and they needed it immediately. This was a foundational piece he'd somehow missed in all his other reforms.
He held up a hand, cutting off Krishnamachari's enthusiastic report. "Good work, Minister. But this success actually highlights a gap we need to fill. We're using American standards for exports. What about Indian standards? We need a unified, mandatory quality mark for everything produced in India, whether it's sold domestically or exported."
Krishnamachari's smile faded as he realized where this was going. "Prime Minister, we have various industry guidelines, but a single national framework would be massive. It would require..."
"It requires new legislation," Arjun interrupted. "A law that makes quality, sanitation, and honest production core values of our industrial strategy. We need a centralized authority with real enforcement power. This isn't optional. It's essential for self-reliance, public health, and India's global reputation."
He dismissed Krishnamachari with a quick nod. "I'll draft the policy framework myself and will present it in the cabinet meet after 3 days.."
Over the next two days, Arjun threw himself into drafting. His memory pulled up the best practices and institutional designs from successful quality control systems he'd seen in his previous life. He carefully crafted a comprehensive policy that would actually work.
Delhi – Prime Minister's Office, South Block – April 23rd, 1949
On April 23rd, Arjun gathered his core economic team: Sardar Patel, Finance Minister Kelkar, Planning Minister Pant, Law Minister Munshi, and Industries Minister Krishnamachari. The mood was serious and focused.
Arjun put the draft legislation on the table. "Gentlemen, our industrial growth is impressive, but it needs a proper foundation. A nation that wants to be a global industrial power can't have its reputation destroyed by inconsistent quality. I'm proposing the National Export Quality Act, 1949."
He outlined the main provisions clearly:
"First, we establish the National Bureau of Standards and Export Quality under the Ministry of Industry. It'll be independent with real authority to set national product standards, inspect and certify goods, and penalize fraud or substandard production."
"Second, we create Indian National Standards covering textiles, jute, leather goods, metalware, food, agricultural products, and eventually industrial inputs and machinery. Every approved product gets an INS Mark showing it meets national quality standards. Exports get a special Indian Export Standard Seal for international recognition."
"Third, export certification becomes mandatory. Nothing leaves India without NBSEQ inspection and approval. We'll set up Export Inspection Hubs in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, and Coimbatore to handle the volume."
"Fourth, government support for industry. Testing laboratories and modern packaging centers in every industrial cluster. Free technical manuals for standardization. Subsidies for industries that consistently meet export standards."
"Fifth, proper training. We'll found a National Institute of Quality Training to teach engineers and workers modern quality control techniques. Exporters with consistently high acceptance rates abroad get recognized as 'National Quality Champions' for their reputation and status."
"Finally, serious enforcement. Factories caught deliberately mislabeling products, adulterating goods, or committing certification fraud lose export licenses for five years, face heavy fines, or get their goods seized.
Repeat offenders get permanently barred from export trade. And to keep it democratic, an Export Standards Council with industry, union, and consumer representatives will advise NBSEQ. Annual reports go to Parliament."
Munshi looked impressed. "Prime Minister, it fills a critical gap and directly ties quality to both national prestige and economic incentives. But then again, it would need serious enforcement, similar to anti-corruption bureau, but with more freedom to perform both routine and on the spot inspections."
"Exactly," Arjun agreed. "A nation's reputation depends on its products. We won't be known for cheaper but questionable exports. We'll be known for reliable, affordable goods that meet the highest standards.
And for that, serious oversight is a must. This Act ensures 'Made in India' becomes synonymous with excellence."
Kelkar nodded, already calculating benefits. "The economic advantages will be enormous. Global trust means expanded markets, accelerated industrial growth, and the revenues we need for everything else we're planning."
Arjun leaned back, satisfied with how the pieces were falling into place. Building an industrial economy wasn't just about factories. It was about defining what Indian production meant.
The National Export Quality Act would ensure that India didn't just manufacture goods, it manufactured them to uncompromising standards that would establish its industrial reputation globally.
Quality wasn't just a business concern. It was a statement about what kind of nation India intended to be.
In the following days, the executive bill was passed and a new bureau for quality control was established under Ministry of Industries.