RDSO (Research Design & Standards Organization) of Indian Railways has become the first Institution to be declared SDO under the ‘One Nation One Standard’ mission. The recognition comes from BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), an institution under the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This unique initiative of two organizations under GOI is going to set a template for all the rest of the leading research and standard development organizations in the country to follow and adapt World Class Standards.
To achieve One Nation One Standard, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body, has launched a scheme that provides for the “Recognition of SDO”. Through this scheme, BIS aims at aggregating and integrating the existing capabilities and dedicated domain-specific expertise available with various organizations in the country engaged in standards development in their specific sectors, and enable the convergence of all standard development activities in the country resulting in “One National Standard for One Subject”.
Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO), Lucknow is the sole R&D Wing of the Ministry of Railways and is India’s standards formulating body for the railway sector.
RDSO took the initiative to seek recognition as a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme. In the process, RDSO reviewed its Standard Formulation procedures to realign them with the Best Practices of Standardization, encoded in the WTO-TBT “Code of Good Practice” and also mandated by the Bureau (BIS) as essential criteria for recognition as SDO.
BIS, after reviewing the Standard Making Procedures of RDSO, has granted recognition to RDSO on 24th May 2021 as SDO (Standard Developing Organization). With this recognition, RDSO becomes the first Standard Developing Organization in the country to be granted recognition under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme. The scope of RDSO’s recognition as SDO, as approved by the Bureau (BIS), is “Standards Developing Organization for products, processes and services for the railway transportation sector in India”. The recognition is valid for 3 years and will require renewal after completion of the validity period.
The Standard formulation procedures at RDSO will now be more focussed on Consensus-based decision making and will entail the extensive engagement of all stakeholders including Industry, Academia, Users, Recognized Labs, Test Houses etc, in the process of Standard making from the very early stages i.e. from Conceptualization to finalization of Standards. Some of the major benefits that will flow out of this recognition by the Bureau of Indian Standards, under the BIS SDO Recognition Scheme, include Larger participation of Industry / Vendors / MSME’s / Technology Developers in the IR Supply Chain, Increased competitiveness amongst Industry / Vendors, Reduction in Cost, Quantum improvement in Quality of Product & Services, Smooth Induction of latest evolving & emerging technologies on IR, Reduced dependence on imports, Thrust on “Make-in-India”, Improvement in Ease-of-Doing-Business, Recognition of RDSO on International Standards Making Bodies and Integration with Global Supply Chain / Global Trade.
The onus of complying with the terms and conditions, which entail conformance to the established Six principles of Standardization with greater emphasis on maintaining Transparency, Openness, Impartiality, Effectiveness, Coherence and Development Dimension, in the process of Standard making, will improve the overall confidence and trust of Industry and Technology Developers in the standards-setting body i.e. RDSO and motivate all stakeholders to contribute in Standard formulation for Railway Sector in the country. It will also help in harmonizing the standardization activity thereby providing an opportunity for greater participation of all stakeholders in the formulation & implementation of National Standards and creating in the long run, a Brand India identity for the quality of the product manufactured inter the country.
Participatory approach to Development of standards involving all stake holders in the process of standard making from the very early stages is set to reduce the time between development of standards and their ground adaptation or user utilisation.
The initiative set to usher in a faster transition from the development of technology & innovation stage to actual use on the ground.
Our nation, best standard /” should have been the caption
The so-called “One nation one standard” looks to be more political slogan than technical.
Some time back there was a move “one nation one grid” which is not possible or practicable.
In the USA due to security threat by miscreants the grid was sectionalized and more so for defence establishments and with solar and other renewables also.
Same is the case with tariffs for power from State to State.
On many occasions due to special conditions of terrain/ weather etc., the local issues prevail.
Some time ago “high speed goods trains” move I read. When the traffic density is less there is no need and on the other hand on the energy side it may cost heavily. Similarly long 3Km strectch trains which has many implications.
In earlier days RDSO used to study/conduct trials wherever needed on all issues before making any change as safety is involved. Why is this drift? Is it really needed? I don’t know but this channel prompted me to write something for whatever worth it is.
The planning for rail and road transport should come under one umbrella. Energywise road transport is costlier and more so with oil engines. Apart from pollution and import of oil, the efficiency of of electrical engine is more than double and to that extent it is energy saving also.
All these factors should be discussed and debated arriving at a conclusion.
Moreover coal traffic will come down with closure of thermal stations which are bound to happen with renewables of all types which are coming in a big way.
It is good from environmental considerations.
I think all these should be debated before embarking on big projects which have a doubtful future traffic growth.