BIS Certification in India
Complete 2026 Guide
Get Free Expert Consultation
Expert calls you within 2 hours — Mon to Sat, 9AM–7PM
🔒 100% Confidential · No Spam · Free Assessment
Bureau of Indian Standards conformity assessment — ISI Mark (Scheme I), CRS registration (Scheme II), FMCS (Foreign Manufacturers) & Scheme X. Determine mandatory status, testing requirements, government fees, and complete application support.
BIS Certification in India: Complete 2026 Guide (ISI Mark, CRS, FMCS, Scheme X & Hallmarking)
BIS certification is conformity assessment by the Bureau of Indian Standards confirming that a product meets the applicable Indian Standard (IS). It is mandatory only for products notified by the Government of India — through Quality Control Orders (QCOs) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme — and voluntary for everything else. The certification route depends on your product and where it is manufactured: ISI Mark (Scheme I) for domestic manufacturers, CRS (Scheme II) for electronics and IT goods, FMCS for foreign manufacturers, Scheme IV and Scheme X for specified products, and Hallmarking for gold and silver jewellery. Selling a mandatorily-certified product without BIS can lead to fines up to ₹5 lakh or ten times the value of goods, and imprisonment up to two years under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016.
Last reviewed: 03 October 2026 · Reviewed against bis.gov.in and current QCO notifications.
What Is BIS Certification?
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's national standards body, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. It was established in its current form under the BIS Act, 2016, which replaced the earlier BIS Act of 1986 and expanded BIS's mandate beyond goods to services, systems and processes.
BIS certification is the process by which BIS confirms that a product conforms to the relevant Indian Standard (IS) — a published technical specification covering safety, quality and performance. Certified products carry the BIS Standard Mark: the familiar ISI Mark for product certification, or the CRS registration number (R-number) for registered electronics.
An Indian Standard existing for your product does not automatically mean BIS certification is mandatory. Certification is voluntary unless the Government of India has made it compulsory for that product — usually through a Quality Control Order (QCO) or inclusion in the Compulsory Registration Scheme list.
Who needs BIS certification?
Mandatory vs Voluntary BIS Certification — and What a QCO Is
BIS certification is voluntary by default. It becomes mandatory when the Central Government notifies a product under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016 — most commonly through a Quality Control Order (QCO) issued by the relevant ministry (DPIIT, Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Chemicals, MeitY, and others).
A QCO specifies:
- the product and its applicable Indian Standard,
- the conformity-assessment route (usually the BIS Standard Mark under Scheme I, CRS or Scheme X),
- the implementation date (often staggered for small and micro enterprises), and
- exemptions and transition provisions.
Once a QCO is in force, no person may manufacture, import, store for sale, sell or distribute the covered product without the BIS Standard Mark.
2026 Regulatory Enforcement Example:
The Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026, notified on 6 April 2026, brings 90 categories of electrical appliances under mandatory certification from 1 October 2026 — including battery-operated and DC-supplied devices.
Which BIS Scheme Applies to You?
India operates several conformity-assessment schemes. Picking the wrong one is the most expensive mistake applicants make — wrong scheme means rejected application and non-refundable fees.
The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 — which would have made Scheme X certification mandatory for a wide range of machinery — was rescinded by the Ministry of Heavy Industries on 16 January 2026 (S.O. 239(E)). Scheme X continues to apply where independently notified (for example, low-voltage switchgear and controlgear QCOs already in force). If a consultant tells you machinery Scheme X is "mandatory from September 2026," that information is out of date. Verify your product's current status before spending on certification.
ISI Mark (Scheme I) — for domestic manufacturers
The flagship product-certification scheme. You apply online, your product is tested against the applicable Indian Standard at a BIS-recognised laboratory, a BIS officer inspects your factory (including your in-house testing facilities and quality-control setup), and BIS grants a licence to use the ISI Mark with your CM/L number. Post-licence, BIS runs surveillance — market sampling, factory visits and record checks.
CRS Registration (Scheme II) — for electronics & IT
A self-declaration-based scheme for electronics and IT goods notified by MeitY. No factory inspection: you get the product tested at a BIS-recognised Indian lab, apply online, and receive a registration with a unique R-number that must appear on the product and packaging. Applies to Indian and foreign manufacturers alike. CRS registrations are typically renewed every two years.
FMCS — for foreign manufacturers
Foreign manufacturers of notified products (other than electronics/IT, which use CRS) obtain the ISI Mark through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. Key requirements: an operative overseas factory with in-house testing facilities, nomination of an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) who is named on the licence, a BIS factory inspection abroad, and sample testing in India. From 1 June 2026, FMCS applications are accepted only through the online portal — hard-copy applications are no longer accepted.
Hallmarking — gold & silver jewellery
Mandatory hallmarking applies to gold jewellery and artefacts, with silver hallmarking mandatory from 1 September 2025. Every hallmarked article carries the BIS logo, the purity/fineness grade (e.g., 22K916) and a six-digit alphanumeric HUID for traceability. Jewellers must hold BIS hallmark registration; hallmarking itself is performed by BIS-recognised Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs).
BIS Certification Process — Step by Step
The exact sequence differs by scheme, but every BIS certification follows this spine:
Identify the applicable Indian Standard and scheme
"Steel" is not a standard — IS 2062 (hot-rolled structural steel) is. The product's exact specifications determine the IS code, and the current QCO/notification determines whether certification is mandatory and under which scheme. Applying under the wrong IS code is the #1 cause of rejection and lost fees.
Prepare documentation
Business registration, factory details, product specifications, quality-control documentation — see our comprehensive checklist below.
Product testing at BIS-recognised lab
Samples are tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory against every parameter of the Indian Standard. BIS has directed empanelled labs to issue reports within 30 days of sample receipt (longer where the standard itself requires it).
Apply online
Applications are filed through BIS's online portals (Manakonline for licences; the CRS portal for electronics; FMCS online-only from 1 June 2026) with the prescribed fees.
Factory inspection (Scheme I, IV, X & FMCS)
A BIS officer verifies production processes, raw-material controls and your in-house testing laboratory. Missing or uncalibrated test equipment is the most common inspection failure.
Grant of licence / registration
You receive the licence (CM/L number), registration (R-number) or Certificate of Conformity, and may then affix the Standard Mark.
Ongoing compliance
Surveillance inspections, market sample testing, timely renewal, and applications for inclusion of new models or change in scope. Certification is an obligation, not an event.
BIS Certification Timeline — How Long Does It Take?
Indicative timelines assuming complete documentation and no major BIS queries:
BIS Certification Cost — Fees Explained
BIS costs have three layers. Beware of anyone quoting a single flat figure without separating them.
*Indicative, compiled from current BIS fee schedules and industry sources. Government fees change by notification — the applicable BIS fee schedule prevails. Last verified: 03 October 2026.
Documents Required for BIS Certification
Core documents (all schemes), then scheme-specific additions:
ISI vs CRS vs FMCS vs Scheme X — Which One Do You Need?
Still unsure which scheme fits your product?
That is normal — the same product can sit on the boundary (e.g. battery-operated appliances). Our free applicability check answers this in one call.
How to Check If Your Product Needs BIS Certification
Check If Your Product Needs BIS — Instant Assessment
Enter your product details below. Our technical experts will verify the applicable Indian Standard and notify you of mandatory QCO deadlines.
Check BIS Applicability
Technical expert will verify your IS standard on WhatsApp
Penalties for Selling Without BIS Certification
Under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016:
Using a Standard Mark without a valid licence attracts statutory fines up to ₹5 lakh under Section 29(1).
Contravening mandatory certification: imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine not less than ₹2 lakh (first offence) and ₹5 lakh thereafter.
Fines can extend up to ten times the commercial value of the produced or imported non-compliant goods.
BIS vs WPC vs LMPC vs EPR — What Else Does Your Product Need?
BIS is frequently only one of several parallel Indian compliance obligations:
WPC (ETA Approval) — Telecom & Wireless
View WPC Guide →Required separately for products with wireless/RF modules (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID). A Bluetooth speaker or wireless IoT device may need both BIS (CRS) and WPC approval.
LMPC Certificate — Legal Metrology Packaged Commodities
View LMPC Guide →Legal Metrology registration for importers and packers of pre-packaged goods; governs MRP, consumer declarations, and packaging units, fully independent of BIS.
EPR Registration — Environmental Producer Responsibility
View EPR Guide →Extended Producer Responsibility compliance for plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, and tyres under CPCB rules; an ongoing annual environmental obligation that applies in addition to BIS.
We evaluate BIS + WPC + LMPC + EPR in a single consultation so nothing slips through customs.
BIS Updates 2026 — What Changed Recently
Why InteLegal Consultants
21 Years Regulatory Practice
Over two decades of hands-on compliance practice; 500+ businesses served across India.
Pre-Filing Standard Verification
Correct scheme and IS code identified before you spend on testing — no rejected applications, no wasted fees.
End-to-End File Handling
Applicability assessment → lab coordination → application → inspection preparation → query resolution → licence grant.
Foreign Manufacturer AIR Services
Legally registered Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) support for foreign brands under FMCS and CRS.
Full Compliance Stack
One firm for your complete regulatory obligations: BIS + WPC + LMPC + EPR.
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by 500+ businesses across India — rated 5 stars on Google
Frequently Asked Questions About BIS Certification
Comprehensive answers compiled by our senior regulatory consultants to address the most frequent questions regarding BIS compliance, schemes, and timelines.
1. What is BIS certification?+
2. Is BIS certification mandatory for all products in India?+
3. What is the difference between BIS and ISI?+
4. What is a QCO (Quality Control Order)?+
5. What is the difference between ISI Mark and CRS?+
6. What is BIS CRS registration?+
7. What is Scheme X certification?+
8. What is Scheme IV?+
9. What is FMCS?+
10. Who is an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR)?+
11. Does an importer need BIS certification?+
12. Does a foreign manufacturer need BIS to export to India?+
13. How much does BIS certification cost in India?+
14. How long does BIS certification take?+
15. What documents are required for BIS certification?+
16. What happens during a BIS factory inspection?+
17. What is a BIS-recognised laboratory?+
18. What is the R-number in BIS CRS?+
19. What is the CM/L number?+
20. How long is BIS certification valid? How is it renewed?+
21. What is "inclusion" in a BIS licence?+
22. What is "change in scope" of a BIS licence?+
23. What happens if a BIS licence is suspended or cancelled?+
24. What is HUID in hallmarking?+
25. Is hallmarking mandatory for silver jewellery?+
26. Do I need BIS to sell on Amazon or Flipkart?+
27. What is the difference between BIS and WPC?+
28. Can I sell my product while my BIS application is pending?+
29. How do I verify whether a BIS licence or CRS registration is genuine?+
30. How do I get BIS certification — and can InteLegal handle it end-to-end?+
Internal Service Cluster Resources
Official Authority Portals & Acts
Get Free BIS Assessment & Quote
Unsure whether your product falls under mandatory certification or which Indian Standard applies? Share your model specifications and manufacturing location. Our compliance engineers will confirm your route, calculate fees, and guide your lab testing schedule.
Get a Quote for BIS Certification
Technical expert will contact you on WhatsApp with your quote