Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Historical Evolution
The Bureau of Indian Standards represents the culmination of India’s commitment to standardization that began shortly after independence. The journey started with the establishment of the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) on 6th January 1947, under a Resolution of the Department of Industries and Supplies. ISI was initially registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, functioning as a society to prepare and promote national standards.
In 1986, recognizing the need for a more robust institutional framework aligned with India’s industrial growth, the Government of India transformed ISI into a statutory organization. The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 was passed by Parliament, and BIS came into existence on 1st April 1987. This transformation provided BIS with adequate autonomy and flexibility to achieve harmonious development of standardization, certification marking, and related activities.
The evolution reached its current phase with the enactment of the BIS Act, 2016, which was notified on 22nd March 2016 and came into force on 12th October 2017. This new legislation positioned BIS as the National Standards Body of India, aligning it with global best practices and expanding its scope to meet contemporary challenges.
Constitutional and Legal Framework
Statutory Status and Administrative Control
BIS operates as a statutory body under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. It functions under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. The Minister in charge of this Ministry serves as the ex-officio President of BIS, ensuring direct governmental oversight and accountability.
Organizational Composition
As the National Standards Body, BIS has 25 members drawn from diverse stakeholder groups including Central and State Governments, industry representatives, scientific and research institutions, and consumer organizations. This broad-based composition ensures that standardization activities reflect multiple perspectives and national priorities.
Key Provisions of BIS Act, 2016
The 2016 Act introduced several transformative provisions that modernized India’s quality infrastructure:
Positioning as National Standards Body: The Act explicitly establishes BIS as India’s apex standardization authority, clarifying its mandate and enhancing its stature.
Multiple Conformity Assessment Schemes: Unlike the previous Act, the 2016 legislation allows various simplified conformity assessment schemes, including self-declaration of conformity, providing manufacturers with flexible options to demonstrate compliance while maintaining quality standards.
Government Authorization Powers: The Act enables the Central Government to authorize agencies other than BIS to verify conformity and issue certificates, creating a more dynamic ecosystem for quality assurance.
Mandatory Certification Grounds: The Government can mandate products to carry the standard mark on grounds of health, safety, environment, national security, or prevention of deceptive practices. This provision ensures consumer protection while addressing national priorities.
Hallmarking Provisions: The Act specifically enables mandatory hallmarking of precious metal articles, protecting consumers from adulteration in gold and silver jewelry.
Consumer Protection Measures: Provisions for recall of non-conforming products bearing standard marks, compensation to consumers, and stringent penal provisions strengthen consumer rights.
Identification of New Standardization Areas: The Act identifies emerging domains requiring standardization including medical devices, alternate fuels, smart cities, e-mobility, new and renewable energy, and digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, and Blockchain.
Organizational Structure
Headquarters and Regional Network
BIS maintains its headquarters in New Delhi at Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. The organization’s pan-India presence is established through a comprehensive network comprising:
5 Regional Offices: Eastern Region (Kolkata), Southern Region (Chennai), Western Region (Mumbai), Northern Region (Chandigarh), and Central Region (Delhi)
36 Branch Offices located at 28 different locations across India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Lucknow, Nagpur, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, and Vishakhapatnam
This extensive network ensures effective linkage with State Governments, industries, technical institutions, consumer organizations, and other stakeholders across different regions.
Core Functions and Activities
Standards Formulation
Standards development constitutes BIS’s primary function. The organization formulates Indian Standards aligned with national priorities across diverse sectors.
Standards Portfolio: BIS has developed over 22,300 Indian Standards covering various technology areas and economic sectors. The number of standards formulated annually has increased from 407 in 2014 to 1,038 in 2025, reflecting growing standardization needs.
Harmonization with International Standards: BIS has achieved 94% harmonization of Indian Standards with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. This alignment facilitates global trade while protecting national interests.
Standards Development Process: BIS follows a consensus-based approach aligned with the WTO-TBT Agreement (Annex 3), ensuring transparency and stakeholder participation. Standards undergo periodic review resulting in reaffirmation, amendment, revision, or withdrawal as required.
Product Certification
BIS operates multiple product certification schemes ensuring compliance with Indian Standards:
ISI Mark (Product Certification Scheme – Scheme I): This is the most recognized certification scheme operated under BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulation, 2018. The ISI mark indicates that a product conforms to relevant Indian Standards. BIS grants licenses to manufacturers after verifying their infrastructure, capability, and ability to produce and test products conforming to standards continuously.
The ISI mark is mandatory for over 450 products and voluntary for approximately 900 products. Mandatory products include items directly affecting public health and safety such as cement, steel products, helmets, pressure cookers, LPG cylinders, domestic gas stoves, and various other products.
Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS): Introduced in 2012 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), CRS mandates BIS certification for electronics and IT goods. The scheme initially covered 15 categories and has expanded to over 76 product categories including laptops, smartphones, LED lights, CCTV cameras, solar PV modules, and printers.
CRS operates based on self-declaration of conformity, where manufacturers register products after testing at BIS-recognized laboratories. Products bear the Standard Mark with a unique R-number.
Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme (FMCS): Operational since 2000, FMCS enables foreign manufacturers to obtain BIS licenses and use the ISI mark on products manufactured outside India. Foreign applicants must appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) and undergo similar verification processes as domestic manufacturers.
Hallmarking Scheme
BIS introduced gold hallmarking in April 2000 and silver hallmarking in October 2005 to provide third-party assurance on purity. From September 2025, hallmarking became mandatory for silver jewelry and artifacts.
The hallmarking scheme operates through a network of BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking (A&H) Centers that test jewelry purity and apply hallmarks. Jewelers obtain certificates of registration to sell hallmarked jewelry. Over 44.28 crore articles of gold jewelry and artifacts have been hallmarked.
Gold Hallmarking Components: BIS hallmark for gold consists of the BIS logo, purity grade (22K916, 18K750, or 14K585 corresponding to 22, 18, and 14 carats respectively), and a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification).
Recent innovations include a pilot project for capturing photographs and weight of hallmarked jewelry at 25 A&H Centers, with data recorded in the BIS portal. Consumers can verify authenticity through the BIS Care mobile application.
Laboratory Services
BIS operates eight laboratories across India for product testing: Central Laboratory (Sahibabad), Western Regional Office Laboratory (Mumbai), Northern Regional Office Laboratory (Mohali), Eastern Regional Office Laboratory (Kolkata), Southern Regional Office Laboratory (Chennai), Bangalore Branch Office Laboratory, Patna Branch Office Laboratory, and Guwahati Branch Office Laboratory. Additionally, BIS maintains a Gold Referral Assaying Laboratory at Chennai.
BIS recognizes NABL-accredited laboratories and government laboratories to discharge testing work related to conformity assessment, expanding testing infrastructure beyond its own facilities.
A significant advancement has been the integration of over 180 instruments and analytical systems with the BIS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), enabling automatic data transfer, reducing human intervention, and enhancing reliability.
Training and Capacity Building
The National Institute of Training for Standardization (NITS) imparts training to technical and management personnel from industry, consumer organizations, public sector undertakings, government bodies, and developing countries. BIS conducts International Training Programmes under various cooperation schemes of the Government of India.
A newly launched Learning Management System (LMS) offers online, self-paced certificate courses on Indian Standards and conformity assessment procedures, providing digital learning opportunities for industry professionals and quality control personnel.
Consumer Affairs and Publicity
BIS conducts extensive awareness programs to promote quality consciousness among consumers. The BIS CARE mobile app, launched in 2020, enables consumers to check authenticity of ISI-marked and hallmarked products and lodge complaints. The app operates in Hindi and English and is available on Android platforms.
Consumer awareness initiatives include sessions with self-help groups, gram panchayat training, quality connect sessions for government officials and academicians, and educational programs in schools and colleges.
Enforcement and Compliance Mechanisms
Quality Control Orders (QCOs)
The Central Government issues QCOs under the BIS Act mandating certain products to conform to Indian Standards and carry BIS certification before manufacture, sale, import, or use. As of 2025, 773 products are covered under 191 QCOs plus two horizontal QCOs, compared to 106 products under 14 QCOs in 2014.
Inspection and Market Surveillance
BIS conducts random market surveillance, including product sampling and complaints monitoring, to ensure compliance. BIS officers possess powers to enter and inspect premises, collect samples, search and seize non-compliant products, and order product recalls.
Penal Provisions
The BIS Act, 2016 prescribes stringent penalties for violations:
Improper use of Standard Mark: Fine up to ₹5 lakh
Manufacturing or selling goods without mandatory certification: Imprisonment up to one year or fine from ₹1 lakh to five times the value of goods, or both
Manufacturing, selling, or storing goods not conforming to prescribed standards: Imprisonment up to two years or fine from ₹2 lakh (first contravention) to ₹5 lakh (subsequent contraventions) but may extend to ten times the value of goods, or both
For e-commerce platforms and sellers, violations can result in penalties, seizure of non-compliant products, and legal prosecution.
Product Recall Mechanism
When BIS determines that products bearing standard marks do not conform to relevant standards, it can direct license holders to stop supply and sale and recall non-conforming products. This provision protects consumers from substandard goods that have entered the market.
International Engagement
Membership in Global Standards Organizations
BIS represents India in international standards bodies, particularly the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). As a full member, BIS participates actively in international standardization work, presenting national viewpoints on draft international standards to protect and reflect India’s interests.
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
BIS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three key European standard development bodies—CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI—defining the scope of technical exchanges, knowledge sharing, and training provisions. Such agreements facilitate Mutual Recognition Agreements and create conducive environments for Free Trade Agreements.
WTO-TBT Enquiry Point
BIS serves as the WTO-TBT (World Trade Organization – Technical Barriers to Trade) enquiry point for India, handling queries related to technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures, thereby facilitating international trade.
International Standards Adoption
BIS technical committees consider adoption of international standards as Indian Standards with or without modifications, enabling Indian products and services to integrate with global trade and commerce.
Strategic Initiatives and Future Directions
Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022-27
SNAP 2022-27 serves as BIS’s strategic roadmap for strengthening and diversifying India’s standardization ecosystem. Developed through consultations with numerous stakeholders including civil society, SNAP addresses emerging priorities:
Strategic Imperatives: Creating a strong, trusted, broad-based, inclusive, and responsive ecosystem for national standards development; promoting standards awareness among policymakers, industry, and public; supporting technology uptake and best practices; and aligning efforts to enhance India’s global competitive position.
Overarching Consideration: Climate change and sustainability form the overriding consideration when developing national standards, with standardization work addressing various aspects of sustainability.
Implementation: SNAP defines a five-year horizon (2022-2027) with annual action plans, progress monitoring frameworks, and resource provision including structural changes in technical committees to make them more focused and agile.
Research and Development Integration
Recognizing the importance of R&D in standardization, BIS has sanctioned 82 research projects to faculty members of IITs, NITs, and other technical institutes, with 99 more in the allotment process. These projects focus on cutting-edge domains including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology, Medical Devices, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Smart Cities, and Digital Transformation.
BIS has entered into MoUs with premier educational institutions, tapping into faculty and research scholars’ intellectual capital to promote R&D necessary for standards formulation.
Digital Transformation
BIS participated in IEC/ISO workshops on digital transformation and SMART (Standards Machine Applicable Readable and Transferable) standards, addressing the need for standards to evolve with digital technologies. The organization has implemented digital systems like e-BIS portal, LIMS integration, and the Learning Management System to enhance efficiency and accessibility.
Emerging Standardization Areas
BIS has identified new priority areas for standardization development:
Digital Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Smart Cities infrastructure
Energy Sector: Renewable energy, alternate fuels, e-mobility, energy storage technologies
Healthcare: Medical devices, digital health, telemedicine
Sustainability: Climate-smart practices, green economy, circular economy principles
Advanced Manufacturing: Advanced materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology
Achievements and Impact
Quantitative Achievements
Over 22,300 Indian Standards in force across diverse sectors
94% harmonization with ISO/IEC international standards
Standards formulation increased from 407 annually (2014) to 1,038 (2025)
Products under mandatory certification grew from 106 products under 14 QCOs (2014) to 773 products under 191 QCOs (2025)
Over 44.28 crore gold jewelry/artifacts hallmarked
82 R&D projects sanctioned with focus on emerging technologies
Involvement of approximately 19,000 domain experts in technical committees
Economic and Social Impact
BIS contributes to national economy through multiple pathways:
Providing safe, reliable, and quality goods to consumers
Minimizing health hazards through product safety standards
Protecting the environment through sustainability-focused standards
Promoting exports and import substitution by aligning with international standards
Controlling proliferation of varieties, enabling efficient production
Supporting public policies in product safety, consumer protection, food safety, environment protection, and building construction
Contemporary Relevance
BIS’s role has become increasingly critical in contemporary India’s development trajectory:
Make in India Initiative: BIS standards facilitate domestic manufacturing by providing quality benchmarks and ensuring competitiveness of Indian products.
Ease of Doing Business: The simplified conformity assessment schemes, including self-declaration options under CRS and streamlined certification processes, enhance business efficiency.
Digital India: BIS’s work on digital technologies, smart cities standards, and digital transformation supports India’s digital infrastructure development.
Consumer Protection: Through mandatory certification, market surveillance, product recalls, and consumer awareness initiatives including the BIS CARE app, BIS strengthens consumer rights.
Global Trade Facilitation: Harmonization of Indian Standards with international standards and MRAs facilitate India’s integration into global value chains.
Sustainable Development: BIS’s focus on climate change, sustainability, renewable energy, and circular economy standards aligns with India’s commitments to Sustainable Development Goals.
Quality Culture: Through its comprehensive activities spanning standardization, certification, testing, training, and awareness, BIS is instrumental in enriching and strengthening the “Quality Culture” in the nation, supporting India’s aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047.
Challenges and Way Forward
While BIS has achieved significant milestones, challenges remain including balancing mandatory certification requirements with MSME sector needs, enhancing stakeholder participation especially from academia in standardization activities, keeping pace with rapid technological changes, and strengthening consumer outreach particularly in rural areas.
The way forward involves continued focus on emerging technology areas, enhanced R&D integration, strengthening international engagement, capacity building across the standardization ecosystem, and promoting quality consciousness at all levels—from manufacturers to consumers—to realize the vision of “zero defect and zero effect” products.
BIS’s evolution from ISI in 1947 to the contemporary National Standards Body reflects India’s journey toward becoming a quality-conscious, globally competitive economy. As India aims to become the third-largest economy by 2028 and a developed nation by 2047, BIS’s role in ensuring quality, safety, and reliability across products and services will remain foundational to achieving these aspirations.
