The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body of India under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Established by the BIS Act of 1986 (enforced from 1987) and subsequently the BIS Act of 2016, BIS is responsible for the harmonious development, standardization, quality certification, and marking of goods in India.
Key Facts
Headquarters: Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002
Branch Offices: Over 20 in major cities across India
Current Chairman (2025): Shri Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Statutory Framework: Governed by the BIS Act, 2016
Major Functions and Responsibilities
Standards Formulation: Developing and publishing Indian Standards (IS) for products, processes, and services in 17 economic sectors such as chemicals, electronics, food, mechanical engineering, civil, textiles, and more.
Product Certification: Through the ISI Mark, BIS operates product certification schemes that indicate conformity to Indian Standards. Certification can be voluntary or mandatory, especially for products impacting health, safety, or national security.
Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS): For self-declaration and registration of certain electronics and IT goods.
Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS): Certifies non-Indian products to BIS standards, enabling use of the ISI Mark in India.
Hallmarking: Grants hallmarking for gold and silver jewellery and other precious metals to certify purity.
Laboratory Services: Operates central and regional laboratories and recognizes third-party labs for testing and certification support.
Consumer Affairs and Publicity: Conducts training, awareness, outreach, and seminars for consumers and manufacturers to promote quality and standards.
Historical Background
Origins: The forerunner to BIS was the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), formed in 1947, focusing initially on standardization to support India’s industrialization.
BIS Establishment: On 1 April 1987, BIS replaced ISI, inheriting its staff, functions, and responsibilities, and expanding its role to cover broader aspects of standardization, certification, and consumer affairs.
Organizational Structure
Governing Body: 25 members including representatives from central/state governments, Parliament, industry, consumer organizations, and scientific/technical institutions.
International Role: BIS represents India at global bodies like ISO and IEC and serves as India’s WTO-TBT enquiry point.
Impact and Objectives
BIS’s activities ensure reliable, safe, and quality goods, contribute to consumer protection, environmental safety, support policy initiatives like Make in India and Digital India, and facilitate both domestic and international trade by promoting consistent product standards.
In summary, the BIS is central to the development of India’s quality infrastructure, enforcing standards across industries, providing certifications, and supporting the country’s economic and consumer interests through trustworthy and advanced standardization frameworks.
