BIS India Certification 2026 – Complete BIS License Guide

BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards - the body behind BIS India's national product safety and quality framework. It operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. BIS is responsible for standard formulation, product certification and marking, testing services, and market surveillance across the country.

What is BIS Certification?

BIS India certification confirms that a product has been tested and meets the safety, quality, and reliability requirements set out in the applicable Indian Standard (IS). Once certified, the manufacturer holds a valid BIS License and may legally sell the product in India, applying the Standard Mark - commonly known as the ISI Mark or BIS CRS Mark, depending on the scheme.

Before April 1, 1987, this authority operated as the Indian Standards Institution (ISI). BIS effectively replaced ISI and took over all its functions — which is why the ISI mark is still used today even though the certifying body is now BIS.

Is BIS certification always mandatory?

Not always. BIS runs both a mandatory certification track and a voluntary certification track:

• Mandatory certification applies to products the Central Government has flagged as requiring compulsory Standard Marking - currently around 380 product categories, covering electricals, building materials, food items, and more. Selling these products without BIS certification is prohibited.
• Voluntary certification is open to manufacturers of roughly 738 other product categories who want the ISI mark as a quality signal, even though it isn't legally required for their product.

If you're unsure which bucket your product falls into, our team can confirm this for you in a free consultation.

Why Does BIS Certification Matter?

• Legal compliance — Products without required certification can be detained at customs, pulled from retail shelves, or attract fines and legal proceedings under the BIS Act 2016. Penalties can reach ₹5 lakh, with criminal liability possible for repeat violations.
• Consumer confidence — The ISI mark remains one of India's most recognised quality signals. Certified products consistently perform better on e-commerce platforms like Amazon India and Flipkart, both of which require BIS registration for electronics listings.
• Market access for foreign manufacturers — For international companies, BIS certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) is the established route into India's consumer market. Without it, shipments regularly face import rejection or indefinite customs delays.
• Quality assurance — The testing and audit process built into certification catches manufacturing or design issues before products reach end users, reducing the risk of recalls.

Types of BIS Certification (Scheme I, Scheme II & More)

BIS certification isn't one single process — it runs through several distinct schemes, each governed by the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Here's how they compare:

1. ISI Mark (Scheme I) — Domestic Manufacturers, With Factory Check

This is the oldest and most common BIS certification route for Indian manufacturers, governed by Scheme I of Schedule II under the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. It requires product testing and a factory inspection by BIS officers.

Covers: electrical items (fans, geysers), building materials (cement, steel), automotive safety items (helmets, tyres, safety glass), food items (bottled water, milk powder), and home items (LPG cylinders, pressure cookers).

2. BIS CRS Registration (Scheme II) — No Factory Check

CRS stands for Compulsory Registration Scheme, introduced in 2012 under the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO), and jointly administered by BIS and the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). No factory visit is required, but product testing at a BIS-recognised lab is mandatory. Applications go through the CRS portal at crsbis.in.

Covers: mobile phones, laptops, tablets, chargers, LED lights, smartwatches, power banks, cameras, displays/monitors, and power supplies.

3. Hallmark Certification — Gold and Silver Jewellery

If you manufacture or sell gold or silver jewellery in India, hallmark registration is mandatory. BIS introduced gold hallmarking in 2000 and silver hallmarking in 2005 to protect consumers from adulteration and enforce purity standards. It covers 22K and 24K gold and 92.5% pure silver. Registration doesn't expire, but ongoing compliance with BIS purity norms is required, and assaying/hallmarking centres must themselves be BIS-recognised.

4. FMCS — For Manufacturers Outside India

The Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme lets companies manufacturing outside India obtain the ISI mark and sell into the Indian market. It works like the domestic ISI scheme, except BIS conducts the factory audit at your overseas facility, and you're required to appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) — the legally mandated local point of contact who handles paperwork and liaises with BIS on your behalf.

Covers: industrial chemicals, steel, cement, safety glass, footwear, and select electronics categories.

Is BIS Scheme X Still Required? (Updated for 2026)

You may have seen references to "BIS Scheme X" for machinery and electrical equipment under India's Omnibus Technical Regulation (OTR), covering products under HS Code Chapters 84 and 85. Here's the current status:

• Originally scheduled to take effect August 28, 2025
• Postponed to September 1, 2026
• Implementation was then suspended indefinitely
• On January 14, 2026, it was officially confirmed that BIS Scheme X would no longer be required

That said, individual components or product variants covered under the old Scheme X scope may still fall under Scheme I (ISI) or Scheme II (CRS) obligations, so it's worth having your product's bill of materials reviewed rather than assuming nothing applies.

CE Marking vs BIS Certification — Not Interchangeable

Many manufacturers who already hold CE marking for the EU market ask if it covers India too. It doesn't. CE marking is a European conformity mark; it does not substitute for BIS certification. Existing CE test reports and technical files can speed up preparation, but your product still needs to be assessed against the relevant Indian Standard (IS) and, depending on category, tested in an Indian accredited lab, marked appropriately, and — for Scheme I — put through a separate factory audit.

Which Products Need BIS Certification?

• Electronics and IT — phones, laptops, chargers, LED lamps, batteries, smartwatches, displays, power supplies
• Building materials — cement, steel, safety glass, PVC pipes
• Vehicles — helmets, tyres, rims
• Food and drinks — bottled water, milk powder
• Home items — LPG cylinders, pressure cookers, geysers
• Chemicals — PVC and industrial solvents

Roughly 380 product categories currently fall under mandatory certification, and the list is updated regularly by BIS. Before starting your application, confirm your product's current status or talk to our team.

How BIS Certification Works: Step by Step

Step 1: Confirm Your Scheme and Indian Standard (IS) Number

Identify whether your product falls under Scheme I (ISI), Scheme II (CRS), FMCS, or a voluntary category, and pin down the exact IS number that applies.

Step 2: Appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) — Foreign Manufacturers Only

The AIR is your official point of contact with BIS. Not just anyone qualifies — the AIR must be:

• A registered legal entity or an Indian citizen with permanent residence in India
• Technically competent enough to respond to BIS queries professionally
• Exclusive to one foreign manufacturer (as a rule, an AIR cannot represent multiple foreign principals before BIS simultaneously)

If your business already has a liaison or branch office in India, that entity is typically designated as your AIR.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

Manufacturing licences, product specifications, test reports, factory floor plans, a signed conformity affidavit, and (for CRS) a self-declaration per MeitY rules.

Step 4: Get Your Product Tested

Testing happens at a BIS-recognised lab. Test reports must generally be no older than 90 days at the time of application.

Step 5: Factory Inspection (Scheme I and FMCS only)

BIS officials assess the manufacturing facility, quality control process, and production line — at the overseas location for FMCS applicants.

Step 6: Submit the Application

ISI and FMCS applications go through the Manak Online portal; CRS applications go through the dedicated CRS portal, with all documents and test reports uploaded.

Step 7: Receive Your BIS License and Mark Your Product

Once approved, BIS issues a certification licence — your BIS License — along with a unique identifier: a 7-digit CM/L number for ISI/Scheme I certification, or an 8-digit R-number for CRS registration. These numbers, along with the applicable IS standard, must be displayed on the product or its packaging alongside the Standard Mark.

What Documents Do You Need?

Common Problems You Might Face

• Paperwork mistakes — each Indian Standard has its own documentation requirements; incomplete or incorrect paperwork is the top cause of application delays.
• Long test queues — labs get backed up; LED and lighting products commonly wait 4–6 months for results.
• Translation and classification errors — misreading Indian requirements has led to real compliance violations, including mislabelled materials from overseas manufacturers.
• Post-certification compliance — getting your licence isn't the finish line. Any change to product design, key components, raw materials, or manufacturing location must be reported to BIS and may trigger retesting or a modification application.
• Determining requirements from HS Codes alone isn't reliable — customs classification tools are a helpful starting point but shouldn't be your only method of confirming whether BIS certification applies to your product; always cross-check against the current BIS mandatory products list.

Why BIS Certification Helps Your Business

• Wins government contracts — many government and defence tenders require BIS registration.
• Gets you listed on Amazon and Flipkart — both platforms require BIS certification for electronics listings.
• Speeds up customs clearance — BIS-certified goods move faster under the "Trusted Trader" facility.
• Reduces legal exposure — documented proof of compliance lowers your risk of fines or product bans.
• Builds brand trust — Indian consumers actively recognise and trust the ISI mark.

BIS Certification Help Across India

PSR Compliance supports businesses across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Noida, Ghaziabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Chandigarh  whether you need an ISI mark as a domestic manufacturer or FMCS approval as a foreign one.

How PSR Compliance Helps You

We manage your full BIS certification, start to finish:

• Identify the correct scheme (Scheme I, Scheme II, FMCS, or Hallmark) and Indian Standard for your product
• Prepare and review all documentation
• Coordinate product testing with BIS-approved labs
• Act as your AIR, or source a qualified one for you
• Prepare you for the factory audit
• Submit your application and liaise with BIS directly
• Manage renewals and ongoing compliance monitoring

Not sure which scheme applies to your product? Talk to our team — your first consultation is free.

Need BIS Certification? Talk to an expert today.

📞 +91 87961 04190 · 📧 support@psrcompliance.com
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