PGS-India is run by a chain of committees and councils, each with its own role, set out in Chapter 2 of the official guidelines. Knowing where your group or council sits explains why some decisions are local and others go further up.
The short version
- The chain runs: DA&FW, PGS-NAC, PGS-NEC, PGS Secretariat, Zonal Councils, Regional Councils, Local Groups.
- The Secretariat sits at the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming; NCOF and NCONF are the same body.
- Complaints and appeals go one level up, not straight to the top.
- Zonal Councils evaluate each RC at least once every 12 months.
The Chain of Command
Seven levels, from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare down to the Local Group.
controlling authority"] --> B["PGS-NAC
policy + standards"] B --> C["PGS-NEC
authorises councils"] C --> D["PGS Secretariat
at NCOF"] D --> E["Zonal Councils
monitor RCs"] E --> F["Regional Councils
oversee Local Groups"] F --> G["Local Groups
peer appraisal"]
Who Does What
Each body has one job, from policy at PGS-NAC to peer appraisal in the Local Group.
| Body | Its actual job |
|---|---|
| DA&FW | Overall controlling authority for the entire programme, under the Secretary, DA&FW |
| PGS-NAC | Apex policy body headed by the Additional Secretary — defines operational guidelines and the PGS-India Standards, approves programme changes |
| PGS-NEC | Implementation and decision-making body — selects and authorises Zonal and Regional Councils, and can withdraw that authorisation |
| PGS Secretariat | Day-to-day execution, coordinates evaluation and surveillance visits, final approver of full conversion-period waivers |
| Zonal Councils | Monitor and physically evaluate Regional Councils at least once every 12 months; hear escalated appeals against RC decisions |
| Regional Councils | Authorise and oversee Local Groups, individual producers, and processors in their region |
| Local Groups | Where peer appraisal and day-to-day certification actually happens |
A Naming Correction Worth Making Explicitly
NCOF and NCONF are two abbreviations for the same body, the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming.
The PGS-India Secretariat sits under the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming. The 2023 guidelines abbreviate this as NCONF in their own abbreviations table, reflecting a rename — the body was previously the National Centre of Organic Farming, without "Natural."
Both abbreviations remain in active circulation. The portal domain itself is still pgsindia-ncof.gov.in, and parts of the official document use each form. NCOF and NCONF refer to the same body — if you see either, they point to the same organisation.
Why the Structure Matters Practically
Take a complaint or appeal to the body directly above the one that decided.
This layering is why escalation has a fixed route. A complaint against a Local Group goes to the Regional Council.
An appeal against an RC's decision goes to the Zonal Council. Only a genuinely stuck escalation reaches the PGS Secretariat itself:
| Your complaint is about… | It goes to… |
|---|---|
| A Local Group, individual producer, or processor | The concerned Regional Council |
| A Regional Council's functioning | The Zonal Council and PGS Secretariat |
| Certification denial by your RC | The Zonal Council |
| Misuse of the PGS-India logo | The Zonal Council or Regional Council |
| An appeal the Zonal Council hasn't addressed in time | The PGS Secretariat |
Trying to skip a layer — emailing the Secretariat directly about a Local Group dispute, for instance — is the single most common reason complaints stall. The body you wrote to has no jurisdiction to act at that level yet.
We cover the escalation timelines — including how long each body has to respond — in detail later in this series. For the principles this whole structure exists to enforce, start with the guiding principles.
Check yourself
Tap an answer to see whether you are right, and why.
A farmer wants to complain about their Local Group. Where does it go?
- The PGS Secretariat
- The concerned Regional Council
- PGS-NAC
Skipping a level is the commonest reason complaints stall.
Are NCOF and NCONF different bodies?
- Yes
- No, the same body
- One is a state body
The name changed to include 'Natural'.
Remember these things
- Know the seven levels.
- NCOF and NCONF are one body.
- Escalate one level at a time.
- Zonal Councils evaluate RCs yearly.
Knowing the structure tells you where every question should go. KrushiFlow validates these fields and submits farmer records to the portal in bulk.