SubsidyMinistry of MSMEVerified 7 May 2026Official source

ZED Certification Scheme — Zero Defect Zero Effect

Provides MSMEs with subsidised quality certification under the ZED (Zero Defect Zero Effect) framework. Subsidy of 80% (micro), 60% (small), 50% (medium) on certification costs. ZED certification unlocks access to government procurement and larger buyers.

Maximum amount
₹3.0L
Typical payout
₹1.5L
Processing time
8–16 weeks
Application window
Open year-round

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Eligibility criteria

Company type
Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship, Partnership Firm
Stage
Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr), Growth Stage (₹1Cr–₹25Cr), Scaling (₹25Cr+)
States
All India (nationwide)
Sectors
manufacturing, food_processing, textile, chemicals, engineering, pharma, printing, rubber, leather
Prerequisites
  • Udyam (MSME) registration required

Documents required

1
Udyam Registration Certificate
Primary enterprise identification for ZED registration; Udyam number is entered during portal sign-up for validation.
Tip: Ensure the mobile number on Udyam matches the one used for ZED registration — OTP is sent to the Udyam-linked number.
2
PAN Card
PAN of the enterprise or proprietor, required at registration.
Tip: Entity PAN preferred; proprietor PAN accepted for sole proprietorships.
3
GST Registration Certificate
GST registration certificate for entities liable for GST registration; mandatory document at the portal level.
Tip: If below GST threshold, a self-declaration of exemption may be submitted in place of the certificate.
4
Company Organogram (Bronze)
Text document or chart mapping leadership roles and reporting hierarchy within the enterprise. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for organisational charts.
Tip: A simple hierarchy chart with names and designations suffices; no specific format is mandated.
5
Cleanliness SOP (Bronze)
Written workspace cleaning schedules and hygiene instructions for the shop floor. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for standard operating procedures.
Tip: Must be a signed, dated document available on the shop floor — an auditor may ask to verify during site visit.
6
Geotagged Floor Photos (Bronze)
Internal and external plant photographs with geotag metadata, uploaded via the ZED Mobile App. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for geotagged site photos.
Tip: Use the official ZED MSME App for upload — photos taken outside the app may be rejected as metadata is validated.
7
PPE Distribution Log (Bronze)
Material distribution registers proving workers received personal protective equipment. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for PPE logs.
Tip: Maintain register with worker signatures; auditors specifically check this for compliance.
8
Quality Inspection Register (Bronze)
Log sheets of incoming raw material checks or pre-dispatch quality inspections. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for inspection registers.
Tip: Registers must show dates, lot numbers, and pass/fail decisions; blank template registers are not accepted.
9
Delivery Records (Bronze)
Sample log sheets showing order tracking metrics for delivery execution. Required for Bronze certification. No canonical key exists for delivery tracking records.
Tip: 3–6 months of records are typically sufficient to demonstrate a functioning delivery tracking system.
10
GSTIN Profile Summary (Silver)
Tax registration overview extract from the GST portal, mapped to the active manufacturing address. Required for Silver certification — distinct from the GST certificate, this is a portal printout confirming address alignment. No canonical key exists.
Tip: Download directly from gstin.gov.in after login; ensure the address matches your factory premises.
11
Pollution Board NOC — Consent to Operate (Silver)
State Pollution Control Board Consent to Operate (CTO) or equivalent air/water discharge clearance. Required for Silver certification.
Tip: CTO must be current and not expired; renewal applications in progress may be provisionally accepted with documentary proof.
12
Plant Maintenance Logs (Silver)
Preventive maintenance calendar sheets and equipment calibration records. Required for Silver certification. No canonical key exists for maintenance logs.
Tip: Calibration records for measurement instruments are specifically scrutinised — ensure all gauges and weighing equipment have current calibration certificates.
13
Employee Safety Training Records (Silver)
Signed worker attendance logs for safety drill and training sessions. Required for Silver certification. No canonical key exists for training attendance records.
Tip: Records must show the date, topic, trainer name, and worker signatures; generic attendance sheets without training topic are flagged.
14
Internal Audit Reports (Silver)
Written improvement logs showing correction tracking for internal operational non-conformities. Required for Silver certification. No canonical key exists for internal audit reports.
Tip: Auditors look for evidence of closed corrective actions, not just identification of issues — show both the finding and the resolution.
15
Material Status Tags (Silver)
Visual process tags or bin labels used to trace goods across the plant floor. Required for Silver certification. No canonical key exists for material traceability tags.
Tip: Physical tags on shop floor are verified during site visit — ensure the tagging system is active and consistently applied.
16
ISO Quality and Safety Manuals (Gold)
Copies of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or equivalent framework manuals and accompanying certificates demonstrating a formal quality and environmental management system. Required for Gold certification.
Tip: Both the ISO certificate and the QMS manual are expected; certificate alone without the operational manual is insufficient for Gold.
17
Energy Audit Reports (Gold)
Energy consumption assessments or electricity conservation records from a certified energy auditor. Required for Gold certification. No canonical key exists for energy audit documents.
Tip: Reports must be from a Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) accredited auditor to be accepted.
18
Vendor Evaluation Frameworks (Gold)
Assessment matrices or scorecards used to evaluate and rank suppliers on environmental compliance. Required for Gold certification. No canonical key exists for vendor assessment frameworks.
Tip: Must show evidence of actual use — blank templates without filled assessments are rejected.
19
IPR Certificates (Gold)
Legal registration papers for active business trademarks, patents, or copyright designs. Required for Gold certification (conditional — only if IP is held).
Tip: If no IP exists, a self-declaration that no IPR is applicable is sufficient for Gold assessment.
20
Automation Blueprint Profiles (Gold)
Software purchase records or equipment flow diagrams showing automated manufacturing processes. Required for Gold certification. No canonical key exists for automation documentation.
Tip: PLC program printouts, SCADA screenshots, or robot installation records are all accepted as automation evidence.
21
CSR and Anti-Child Labour Policies (Gold)
Signed HR manuals enforcing labour safety and social welfare directives including anti-child labour policy. Required for Gold certification. No canonical key exists for CSR policy documents.
Tip: Policy must be signed by the authorised signatory and dated; a copy should be displayed at the workplace.
22
CA Cost Certificate (Financial Assistance Claim)
Expert CA-certified cost certificate for ISO, BIS, or testing expenses claimed under the ZED Financial Assistance tab (up to ₹50,000 reimbursement). Required only when claiming financial subsidy.
Tip: The CA must certify actual expenditure incurred; estimated or provisional certificates are rejected by QCI.
23
Agency Invoices for ISO / BIS / Testing (Financial Assistance Claim)
Original invoices from the certifying or testing agency for costs being claimed under the Financial Assistance tab. Required only when claiming financial subsidy. No canonical key exists for agency service invoices.
Tip: Invoices must be in the enterprise's name; invoices in the proprietor's personal name are not eligible.
24
Cancelled Cheque (Financial Assistance Claim)
Cancelled cheque for the enterprise's bank account for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of the approved financial subsidy amount.
Tip: Account must be in the enterprise's name; QCI validates this before recommending DBT.

How to apply for ZED

1
Register on the ZED Portal — enter your Udyam Registration Number and the mobile number linked to your Udyam profile for OTP validation. Select your plant location and associated plant activity, then set a password. A confirmation email with your ZED credentials and pledge link will arrive shortly.Open portal
2
Acknowledge the ZED Pledge — log in to the portal and electronically sign and submit the mandatory environmental and quality pledge before proceeding to level selection.
3
Select your certification level (Bronze / Silver / Gold) and complete payment. Claim the ₹10,000 Joining Reward from your dashboard to offset certification fees. Activate the free MSME KAWACH insurance benefit. Additional benefits and incentives are unlocked after certification is issued.Open portal
4
Upload all required evidence via the ZED MSME Mobile App (Google Play: com.qci.zed.msme). Upload your Unit Representative Selfie, geotagged site photos (internal and external), and all level-dependent document photos. Geotagged photos must be taken from within the app — GPS coordinates are captured automatically.Open portal
5
Desktop & field verification — for Bronze, an assigned auditor performs a strict desktop review of your uploaded documents. For Silver and Gold, a physical site assessment is conducted. If non-conformities are found, you receive a grace window to fix the gaps and re-upload proof before re-assessment.
6
Final quality check and certificate issuance — the application goes to the Master Admin portal. The Quality Council of India (QCI) verifies all parameters and issues the ZED certificate at your chosen level.
7
Financial subsidy claims — to claim cash reimbursement for additional costs (ISO certification, BIS, testing, etc. — up to ₹50,000), log into the Financial Assistance tab on the portal. Submit a CA cost certificate, original agency invoices, and a cancelled cheque. QCI validates the claims and recommends Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to your bank account.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for ZED?

ZED is available to Private Limited, LLP, One Person Company, Proprietorship, Partnership Firm companies at the Early Stage (Revenue < ₹1Cr), Growth Stage (₹1Cr–₹25Cr), Scaling (₹25Cr+) stage, across all Indian states (nationwide). Udyam (MSME) registration is required.

How much funding does ZED provide?

ZED provides up to ₹3.0L. Most applicants receive around ₹1.5L.

How long does ZED approval take?

The typical processing time from submission to disbursement is 8–16 weeks.

Is ZED currently accepting applications?

Yes, ZED is currently active and accepting applications. Application window: Open year-round.

Do I need Udyam registration for ZED?

Yes, Udyam (MSME) registration is required. Register at udyamregistration.gov.in before applying.

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Information is based on publicly available scheme guidelines. Last verified 7 May 2026. Always verify with official sources before applying.