STQC Certification

What is the STQC Full Form?

The stqc full form is the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification Directorate. It is an attached office of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. Established in 1980, STQC has grown to become the nation’s premier assurance provider for the Electronics and IT industries. Through its extensive network of testing laboratories and IT centres across the country, STQC is tasked with ensuring that products, systems, and services adhere to both national and international standards.

The Mandate and Mission of STQC

The core mandate of STQC is to promote quality culture and competitiveness in the Indian industry. It achieves this by providing a spectrum of Quality Assurance (QA) services, including:

• Testing: Comprehensive testing of products, components, and systems against specified quality and safety standards.
• Calibration: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of measuring instruments across various industries.
• Certification: Granting the official STQC certificate to organizations, products, or systems that comply with specific, audited standards.
• Training and Capacity Building: Offering specialized training programs in Quality Management, Information Security, and Software Engineering.
• IT & e-Governance Services: Providing quality and security audits for government IT projects and services.

STQC holds accreditations from major national and international bodies, such as the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), and international forums like the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA). This recognition ensures that the stqc certification you achieve is respected globally.

STQC provides specialized certification schemes tailored to different aspects of the IT and Electronics lifecycle—from organizational processes to individual product components. Understanding which scheme applies to your business is the critical first step.

Management System Certification

These certifications focus on the organizational processes, ensuring a robust framework for delivering consistent quality and managing risks.

Certification Scheme	Standard (Scope)	Key Benefits
ISO 9001 QMS	Quality Management System	Ensures consistent product/service quality, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
ISO 27001 ISMS	Information Security Management System	Provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company and client information, ensuring data security and compliance.
ISO 20000-1 ITSM	IT Service Management System	Defines best practices for delivering effective, measurable IT services, aligning IT with business needs.
ISO 14001 EMS	Environmental Management System	Helps organizations manage their environmental responsibilities and reduce waste.

Product Certification Schemes

These schemes focus on the actual physical or digital products, ensuring they meet the prescribed technical and safety standards.

A. Biometric Devices Certification Scheme (BDCS)

This is one of the most crucial STQC certification schemes in India, directly impacting the Aadhaar ecosystem.

• Purpose: To ensure that biometric devices (fingerprint scanners, iris scanners, QR code readers, etc.) used for authentication and enrolment are reliable, secure, and compliant with UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) specifications.
• Assessment Areas: Physical and dimensional tests, image quality, environmental resilience (durability/climatic), security, functional performance, and interoperability.
• Result: A mandatory STQC certificate required for deployment of these devices in government services.

B. Product Safety Certification (S-Mark)

• Purpose: To certify the safety of electronic products based on rigorous testing according to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) Standards.
• Scope: Applied to a range of electronic and electrical equipment, assuring consumers of their safety and performance.

IT and e-Governance Assurance Schemes

With the massive scale of the Digital India initiative, quality and security assurance for government systems is critical. STQC provides:

A. Website Quality Certification (WQC)

• Purpose: To certify the quality, usability, security, and accessibility of official websites and web portals, particularly those of government ministries and departments.
• Standard: Based on the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW 3.0).
• Outcome: Websites receive the coveted “Certified Quality Website (CQW)” mark and an STQC certificate, confirming adherence to national and international best practices for citizen service delivery.

B. Common Criteria (CC) Certification

• Purpose: To evaluate and certify IT Security Products and Protection Profiles (PP) against the international Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408) standards.
• Role of STQC: STQC is the Certificate Authorizing Nation for India under the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), meaning an STQC CC certificate is globally recognized by all signatory nations. This is essential for cybersecurity products.

C. Software and System Certification (e-Procurement, etc.)

• Scope: Auditing the functionality, performance, security, and quality of large-scale IT systems and software applications, such as e-Procurement platforms, before they are deployed for public use.

The documentation required for an STQC certificate varies significantly depending on whether you are seeking a Product Certification (like Biometric Devices) or a Management System Certification (like ISO 27001). Our consultants streamline this process, ensuring all documents are technically sound and complete before submission.

A. Documents for Product Certification (e.g., Biometric Devices)

Category	Key Documents Required
Application & Legal	Formal Application Form, Certification Agreement, Certificate of Incorporation/Business Registration, BIS Registration Letter (if applicable).
Product & Technical	Detailed Device Specifications (Device Under Test), Technical Manual/User Manual, Internal Test Reports, Final Release Note, Sample Devices (3 or more) for lab testing.
Quality Assurance	Manufacturer’s Authorization Letter (if applicable), Proof of established Quality Management System (e.g., ISO 9001 certification) at the manufacturing facility.

B. Documents for Management System Certification (e.g., ISO 27001 ISMS)

Category	Key Documents Required
Application & Legal	Formal Application Form, Organizational Structure Chart, Preliminary Information Sheet (for quotation).
System Documentation	Information Security Policy and Objectives, Defined ISMS Scope Document, Risk Assessment Report (identifying threats and vulnerabilities), Risk Treatment Plan, and the mandatory Statement of Applicability (SoA).

InstaCertify’s Guarantee: We provide templates and hands-on support for developing the technical documentation (like the SoA or detailed specifications), ensuring they meet the stringent requirements of the STQC full form mandate.

The journey to obtaining your stqc certificate varies slightly depending on the specific scheme (e.g., product vs. management system), but it generally follows a highly structured methodology to ensure impartiality and thoroughness. Our role at InstaCertify is to prepare, guide, and represent you at every stage, significantly reducing the time and effort required from your internal team.

Step 1: Preliminary Consultation and Scope Definition

• Action: You engage with InstaCertify.
• Our Role: We analyze your specific product, system, or management process to determine the exact STQC scheme and applicable standards (e.g., UIDAI specifications, ISO 27001, GIGW). We define the scope, identify necessary documentation, and provide an initial, transparent estimate of the stqc certification cost.

Step 2: Documentation Preparation and System Design Review

• Action: Your organization prepares the required technical and quality documents (e.g., Quality Manuals, System Architecture, Test Plans).
• Our Role: We conduct a gap analysis of your existing documentation and system design against the STQC requirements. We assist in developing, revising, and refining all necessary manuals, policies, and procedural guidelines to ensure 100% compliance before submission.

Step 3: Testing and Pre-Audit Readiness

This is the most critical technical phase, especially for product certifications like Biometric Devices.

• Action: Products/systems undergo required testing.

Our Role:

• Testing: For product certifications, we coordinate the sample submission and rigorous testing at an STQC-accredited lab. We help interpret test reports and troubleshoot any failures.
• Internal Audit: For management system certifications, we conduct a comprehensive internal pre-audit to identify non-conformities (NCs) and provide corrective action plans before the official STQC audit.

Step 4: Official Audit and Assessment by STQC

• Action: STQC-appointed auditors/assessors visit your site (for management systems) or review the final test results/documentation (for products).
• Our Role: We manage the entire interaction with the STQC auditors. We ensure all evidence is presented correctly and professionally, and we assist in immediately addressing any Major or Minor Non-Conformities raised by the STQC assessment team.

Step 5: Grant of STQC Certificate

• Action: Upon successful completion of the audit, verification of corrective actions, and final review by the STQC Certification Body, the certificate is granted.
• Outcome: You receive the official STQC certificate with a specified validity period (typically three years).

Step 6: Post-Certification Maintenance and Surveillance

• Action: The organization maintains the certified system and prepares for renewal.
• Our Role: We prepare you for mandatory Surveillance Audits (usually annual) to ensure continuous compliance. We manage the renewal process prior to the certificate’s expiry to ensure your certification remains valid.

The duration to obtain the STQC certificate is highly variable, largely dependent on the chosen scheme, the initial readiness of your organization, and the time taken for product testing. The total process typically ranges from 8 weeks to 6 months.

Certification Scheme	Phase	Typical Duration	Critical Dependency
Product Certification (BDCS)	Phase 1: Preparation & Submission	2 – 4 Weeks	Completeness of documentation, technical readiness of the device.
	Phase 2: Lab Testing & Report	4 – 8 Weeks	The STQC lab’s queue/capacity and the time taken to clear the tests.
	Phase 3: Final Certification	1 – 2 Weeks	STQC Certification Committee approval process.
	Total Estimated Time	7 to 14 Weeks (If no re-testing is required)	Speed of product compliance.
System Certification (ISO 27001/WQC)	Phase 1: Gap Analysis & Documentation	4 – 8 Weeks	Availability of client management/staff, complexity of the ISMS/QMS scope.
	Phase 2: System Implementation	8 – 12 Weeks	Time required to implement and prove the new procedures and controls.
	Phase 3: STQC Audit & NC Closure	4 – 8 Weeks	Audit scheduling, and the time taken by your team to fix any Non-Conformities found.
	Total Estimated Time	16 to 28 Weeks (Typically 4-6 Months)	Organizational readiness and commitment.

Critical Timeline Notes:

1. Re-testing: The biggest variable in the timeline for product schemes (like BDCS) is failure during initial testing. Re-testing can add 4 to 8 weeks or more, depending on the nature of the required product modification.
2. Audit Scheduling: STQC audits are scheduled based on the availability of their assessors. We book these slots well in advance to minimize delays.
3. Validity: Once granted, the STQC certificate generally has a validity of 3 years, subject to satisfactory annual surveillance audits.

Our project management ensures that every step is executed efficiently, aiming for the shortest possible Timeline without compromising the quality of compliance.

A precise, fixed figure for the stqc certification cost is challenging to provide universally, as the final expenditure is highly dependent on the specific certification scheme, the complexity of the product or system, and the size of your organization. InstaCertify commits to providing a detailed, upfront, and transparent quote, breaking down the costs into the three primary components outlined below.

STQC and Accredited Lab Mandatory Fees (Pass-Through Costs)

These are the fees charged directly by the STQC Directorate or its accredited testing laboratories, and they form the core of the external stqc certification cost.

Fee Component	Typical Applicable Scheme	Details and Examples (Approx. INR)
Application/Registration Fee	All Schemes (Product & System)	A fixed, initial fee paid to STQC upon submission of the formal application. (e.g., ₹20,000 for Biometric Devices).
Testing/Evaluation Fee	Product Schemes (BDCS, S-Mark, etc.)	The major component for product certifications. It covers the cost of rigorous testing against technical standards.
	Example: Biometric Device	₹4,00,000 to ₹6,00,000+ depending on device type (e.g., Fingerprint vs. IRIS, L0 vs. L1).
Audit/Assessment Fee	Management System Schemes (ISO 27001, QMS) & IT Systems	Calculated based on Auditor Man-Days, which depend on the organization’s size, complexity, number of sites, and employee count.
	Example: e-Procurement System	Can be fixed, e.g., ₹10 Lakhs plus GST (if testing is conducted by STQC).
Evaluation & Certification Fee	All Schemes	A fee for the final administrative review and issuance of the official STQC certificate. (e.g., ₹50,000 for Biometric Devices).
Surveillance Audit Fee	All Schemes (Post-Certification)	Charges for the periodic audits (usually annual) required to maintain the certificate’s validity (e.g., ₹50,000 for 3 years for some product schemes).
Additional Charges	Product Schemes	Fees for testing additional operating systems (e.g., Linux, Android), minor technical changes, or re-testing after initial failure.

Note: All government-mandated fees are subject to prevailing Goods and Services Tax (GST), which must be paid additionally. These figures serve as a reference; we provide the exact, latest schedule of charges upon scope finalization.