BIS reforms product certification norms to boost manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat

Livemint - Economy · 1 Mar 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Economy Mains · GS3 Economy High relevance

The government has amended BIS regulations to introduce a self-declaration route for select products, easing certification while tightening compliance, marking a structural shift in India's quality conformity regime to support domestic manufacturing.

Key points

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) amended its Conformity Assessment Regulations 2018 to restructure Scheme-II and Scheme-VII, introducing a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDOC) model for notified products.

Scheme-II now allows manufacturers to obtain licenses through registration based on self-declaration backed by accredited lab reports, eliminating mandatory pre-licence factory inspections for electronics and IT products.

[GS3-Economy] The revised fee structure sets application and annual license fees at ₹1,000 each, with ₹25,000 resource fee per application, aligning with the ease of doing business objectives under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Post-market surveillance mechanisms have been strengthened to compensate for reduced pre-licence inspections, emphasizing documentation scrutiny and third-party testing for quality assurance.

Annual compliance has been tightened with upfront payment of license fees and automatic suspension for non-payment, reflecting a trust-but-verify approach to regulatory oversight.

The reforms exclude high-risk products like cement, steel bars, and LPG cylinders under Scheme-I, IV, V, IX, and X which still require on-site assessments, balancing ease with safety concerns.

Currently, 23,700 Indian standards are in force with 94% alignment to ISO/IEC norms, demonstrating India's integration with global quality benchmarks while supporting domestic industry.

[GS2-Governance] This connects to regulatory governance reforms by shifting from input-based to outcome-based regulation, reducing inspector raj while maintaining quality standards.

Way Forward: Expand the SDOC model to more sectors with robust digital infrastructure for real-time compliance monitoring, integrate MSMEs through capacity building, and establish an independent audit mechanism for post-market surveillance.

Key terms

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

The national standards body under Consumer Affairs Ministry established by the BIS Act 2016, responsible for quality certification (ISI mark), standardization, and testing. Its regulatory role is crucial for consumer protection, import substitution, and export competitiveness under Make in India.

Scheme-II Certification

A registration-based BIS framework primarily for electronics and IT products where conformity is established through third-party testing rather than factory inspection. Its restructuring reflects India's push to streamline tech manufacturing approvals.

Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDOC)

A trust-based regulatory model where manufacturers declare compliance with standards, supported by test reports from accredited labs. This aligns with global best practices like the EU's CE marking system, reducing bureaucratic delays.

ISI Mark

The certification mark issued by BIS indicating conformity to Indian standards, mandatory for 380+ products under the BIS Act. Its credibility is vital for consumer safety and domestic industry protection against substandard imports.