Registrations

Company & Business Registrations

From your first incorporation to a cross-border entity, pick the structure you need.

Compliance

Stay Ahead of Every Deadline

Statutory and regulatory filings we manage, tracked on one compliance calendar.

IPR

Protect What You've Built

Register, defend and manage the intellectual property that makes your business yours.

Taxation

Direct Tax, Indirect Tax & Advisory

From routine return filing to cross-border tax structuring and litigation support.

Consultation

Talk to a Specialist, Not a Ticket Queue

A short conversation with our team is the fastest way to get a clear, personalised plan.

More

Quick Links

Learn more about us or explore our presence across countries.

About India Careers Malaysia Terms & Conditions Singapore
robo-img
Hisho & Kanri
Hello! How can we help?

We provide accounting, compliance,
and advisory services.

ZED Certification

Prove your unit runs on zero defect, zero effect standards.

ZED Certification — short for Zero Defect Zero Effect — is a quality and sustainability rating scheme run under the Ministry of MSME, assessed through the Quality Council of India. It benchmarks a manufacturing or service MSME against defined parameters for product quality, process discipline, energy efficiency, and environmental impact, awarding a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, or Platinum rating based on a self-assessment, desktop review, and physical site audit.

Certified correctly, it unlocks government subsidy on the assessment cost itself, priority weighting in public procurement, and a structured improvement roadmap from qualified assessors. Approached without preparation, enterprises often lose marks on avoidable documentation gaps or fail the site audit outright — which is why most MSMEs bring in a ZED specialist rather than filing the self-assessment questionnaire unassisted.

Talk to a ZED Expert Compare Certification Levels
0MSMEs Certified
0Rating Levels
0Avg. Turnaround
0Client Satisfaction
Ministry of MSME · Quality Council of India
ZED Certification
Zero Defect Zero Effect rating for MSMEs
B
S
G
D
P
Udyam No.UDYAM-XX-00-0000000
Enterprise CategorySmall
Assessed LevelGold
StatusCertified
Levels & Eligibility

Five levels, and who can climb them

ZED rates enterprises on a five-tier scale based on their self-assessment score and audit findings, open to micro, small, and medium units alike.

Bronze

The entry tier — basic quality control, safety, and housekeeping practices in place.

Level 1

Silver

Improved process control, defect tracking, and consistent delivery timelines.

Level 2

Gold

Structured technology adoption, waste reduction, and measurable efficiency gains.

Level 3

Diamond

Advanced energy management and sustainability practices embedded across operations.

Level 4

Platinum

The global-benchmark tier — near-zero defect and near-zero environmental effect.

Level 5

Micro Enterprises

Eligible for the highest certification cost subsidy, typically up to 80% of the fee.

Small Enterprises

Eligible for a substantial cost subsidy, typically up to 60% of the certification fee.

Medium Enterprises

Eligible for a moderate cost subsidy, typically up to 50% of the certification fee.

The Process

From enrollment to certificate, step by step

Here's exactly what happens between registering on the ZED portal and receiving your rated certification.

Self-Assess
Desktop Review
Site Audit
Certified
1

Udyam & Eligibility Check

We confirm your Udyam Registration details and enterprise category before enrollment on the ZED portal.

2

ZED Portal Enrollment

Your enterprise profile is created on the official ZED certification portal, linked to your Udyam and GST records.

3

Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)

We help you answer the SAQ accurately across quality, process, and environmental parameters to secure a fair provisional score.

4

Documentation & Evidence Upload

Supporting records — SOPs, utility bills, quality logs — are compiled and uploaded as evidence for each SAQ response.

5

Desktop Assessment

An empanelled assessing body reviews your submitted documents and evidence remotely before scheduling a visit.

6

Site Assessment

A physical audit of your unit verifies practices on the shop floor against your self-assessment claims.

7

Rating & Level Determination

Combined scores from the SAQ, desktop review, and site audit determine your final Bronze-to-Platinum rating.

8

Certificate Issuance & Subsidy Claim

Your ZED certificate is issued and we help you file for the applicable government subsidy on the assessment cost.

Eligibility

Who can apply for ZED Certification?

The scheme is open to registered MSMEs across manufacturing and select service sectors, subject to a few baseline conditions.

Valid Udyam Registration

An active Udyam Registration Number classifying the unit as micro, small, or medium.

Manufacturing or Eligible Service Unit

A functioning production facility or a service enterprise covered under the current ZED guidelines.

GST Registration, Where Applicable

A valid GSTIN matching the enterprise's PAN and business address, if the unit is GST-registered.

Basic Quality & Safety Practices

Some minimum housekeeping, safety, and process documentation already in place at the unit.

Willingness to Undergo Site Audit

Readiness to host a physical assessment visit by the empanelled assessing body.

No Pending Blacklisting

The enterprise must not be blacklisted or debarred by any central or state government body.

Paperwork

Documents you'll need to keep handy

Gathering these upfront is the single biggest thing you can do to speed up your SAQ and assessment cycle.

Udyam Registration Certificate

Confirms MSME classification and category

GST Registration Certificate

Where the unit is GST-registered

PAN Card

Of the business entity or proprietor

Business Address Proof

Utility bill, lease deed, or ownership document

Process & Quality Records

SOPs, inspection logs, and quality checklists

Utility Bills

Electricity/water bills for energy parameters

Bank Account Details

For subsidy disbursement upon certification

Authorisation Letter

Nominating a point of contact for the assessment

Why It's Worth It

What ZED Certification actually buys you

Beyond the badge itself, certification changes how efficiently you operate and how government buyers and lenders see your unit.

Government Subsidy on Cost

Up to 80% of the assessment fee subsidised for micro units

Tender & Procurement Priority

Preferential weighting in select government procurement processes

Easier Access to Credit

A recognised quality rating strengthens loan and MSME scheme applications

Reduced Defects & Wastage

Structured assessment surfaces process gaps causing rework and loss

Improved Energy Efficiency

Environmental parameters push measurable gains in resource use

Stronger Buyer Confidence

A rated certificate signals consistent, defect-free manufacturing

Access to Buyer Networks

Visibility to larger buyers and OEMs seeking certified vendors

A Clear Improvement Roadmap

Assessor feedback gives a concrete path to the next certification level

After Certification

Staying certified, cycle after cycle

Certification is the start, not the finish — here's what keeps your ZED rating current and credible.

Periodic Re-Assessment

Certification is revalidated on a defined cycle to confirm practices are still current.

Corrective Action on Non-Conformities

Any gaps flagged during the site audit must be closed within the specified timeline.

SAQ Score Updates

The self-assessment questionnaire should be revisited as processes and equipment change.

Level Upgrade Assessment

Enterprises may apply for re-assessment to move up from Bronze toward Platinum over time.

Portal Data Reporting

Production, quality, and energy data updated periodically on the ZED portal.

Environmental Norms Adherence

Continued compliance with the environmental parameters claimed at certification.

Why Hisho & Kanri

ZED assessments handled by people who track every parameter

We've guided MSMEs through the SAQ, desktop review, and site audit across manufacturing sectors, and know exactly where enterprises lose avoidable marks.

ZED Assessment Specialists

Consultants who prepare SAQ responses and audit evidence every week.

Higher First-Attempt Ratings

Documentation and shop-floor readiness reviewed before the official audit.

Transparent Pricing

Clear packages covering professional fees, with subsidy claims handled for you.

Full Visibility

You track every stage, from portal enrollment to final rating.

Level-Upgrade Support

We help you plan the improvements needed to move up a tier at renewal.

Secure Documentation

Production, financial, and process records handled under strict confidentiality.

FAQ

Common questions about ZED Certification

Can't find your question here? Use the form alongside this page and we'll answer it directly.

ZED stands for Zero Defect Zero Effect — a rating scheme that measures product quality and environmental impact together, run under the Ministry of MSME.

No, it's voluntary, though it's increasingly favoured in government procurement and by buyers seeking verified quality standards.

Assessments are conducted by assessing bodies empanelled by the Quality Council of India on behalf of the Ministry of MSME.

Typically around 45 working days from portal enrollment to final certificate, depending on SAQ readiness and audit scheduling.

Bronze marks basic compliance, while Silver, Gold, and Diamond reflect progressively stronger process and sustainability practices, with Platinum as the top global benchmark.

Subsidy typically scales with enterprise size — higher for micro units and progressively lower for small and medium enterprises.

Select service-sector MSMEs are eligible under current guidelines, alongside the core manufacturing categories the scheme was originally built for.

Udyam Registration, GST certificate (where applicable), PAN, address proof, and process records are the core set — see the Documents section above.

Yes, periodic re-assessment keeps the rating valid and gives enterprises a chance to move up to a higher level.

Because we prepare your SAQ and audit evidence with care, keep you informed at every stage, and help you plan the next level upgrade after certification.