Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's National Standards Body, established under the BIS Act, 2016 (which replaced the earlier 1986 Act) and functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. It develops Indian Standards (IS) and runs the certification schemes that let a manufacturer prove a product meets those standards before it reaches the market.
What BIS does
- Formulates and publishes Indian Standards (IS) across sectors
- Product certification through the ISI Mark scheme
- Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for electronics and IT goods
- Hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery
- Management system certification (ISO 9001, etc.) and laboratory recognition
- Consumer awareness and complaint redressal via the BIS CARE app
When BIS certification is mandatory
Most BIS certification is voluntary, but it becomes compulsory once the relevant ministry issues a Quality Control Order (QCO) notifying a product under the BIS Act. Manufacturing, importing, storing or selling a notified product without a valid licence is a punishable offence. Categories currently covered by QCOs include cement, iron and steel products, electrical appliances and cables, LPG cylinders and valves, certain food and packaged-water products, toys, footwear and many others. Always check the latest QCO for your specific product before you assume it is exempt.
The main certification routes
| Scheme | What it covers | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| ISI Mark (Scheme-I) | Indian manufacturers of notified products | ISI monogram with IS number |
| FMCS | Foreign manufacturers exporting to India | ISI Mark |
| CRS (registration) | Electronics and IT goods | Standard Mark with R-number |
| Hallmarking | Gold and silver jewellery | BIS mark with HUID |
How ISI Mark licensing works
The ISI Mark route follows a defined sequence, applied for online through the BIS Manak portal:
- Submit the application with factory, product and test details
- Factory inspection and sample drawal by a BIS officer
- Sample testing in a BIS-recognised laboratory
- Grant of licence once the product conforms to the relevant IS
- Surveillance visits and market samples during the licence term
Licence validity was recently extended: under the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (notified 25 February 2026), a Standard Mark licence is now granted for up to five years rather than the earlier two, with fees payable annually and production and marking data to be reported on time. Missing the annual fee or renewal can lead to suspension or cancellation, so track your due dates.
Gold and silver hallmarking
Hallmarking of gold jewellery has been mandatory in notified districts since June 2021 and is enforced through registered jewellers. Older pieces carried four marks; hallmarked jewellery now shows three marks:
- The BIS logo (triangle)
- The purity grade - for example 22K916 for 22-carat gold
- A 6-digit alphanumeric HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification)
Since 1 April 2023, jewellery without a valid HUID cannot be sold, and buyers can verify any HUID instantly through the BIS CARE app. Silver hallmarking remains voluntary at present.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating ISI certification and CRS registration as the same - they are separate schemes with different marks
- Using the ISI Mark before the licence is actually granted
- Letting the annual fee lapse and triggering suspension
- For jewellers, holding non-HUID stock that can no longer be legally sold