BIS / ISI Mark — Bureau of Indian Standards Product Certification
If your product falls under one of the 500+ categories listed in the BIS mandatory certification list, you cannot legally sell it in India without the BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark). This is a legal requirement, not a voluntary quality signal. Selling uncertified products in mandatory categories carries penalties under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016.
500+
Product categories under mandatory BIS
Legal
BIS Act 2016 mandates compliance
Annual
Surveillance audits after licence
Your company holds a BIS licence and you need to understand what it requires from your work. Every batch must be produced consistently to the standard and tested before despatch. Your job is to follow the manufacturing procedures, record test results, and ensure every product carries the BIS mark correctly.
Batch-wise
Test records required for every production run
Traceable
Every batch to the BIS licence number
Inspected
BIS surveillance officers can visit unannounced
Quick reference. BIS Standard Mark (IS mark / ISI mark) under Scheme I of the BIS Product Certification Scheme. Mandatory for categories listed under Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018. Apply at bis.gov.in via CRS (Conformity Assessment) portal. Foreign manufacturers apply under Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
Scheme I
Standard Mark — most product categories
CRS Portal
bis.gov.in for applications
FMCS
Foreign manufacturer route
The BIS Standard Mark — commonly called the ISI mark — is India's product quality certification mark. Administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The BIS Act 2016 replaced the earlier BIS Act 1986 and significantly increased penalties for non-compliance.
1947
ISI mark introduced
1987
BIS Act established
2016
BIS Act revised, penalties increased
Mandatory for 500+ regulated product categoriesApply via BIS CRS portal at bis.gov.inAnnual surveillance audits after licensing
What’s on this page
01 —What it isUnderstanding BIS / ISI Mark
India's mandatory product quality mark — required before you can sell in regulated categories.
The BIS Standard Mark (commonly called the ISI mark) is India's product quality certification. It is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
For products in the mandatory list — which includes electrical equipment, cement, steel, food items, helmets, and hundreds of other categories — the BIS mark is a legal requirement. Selling unmarked products in mandatory categories violates the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 and can result in imprisonment, fines, or both.
For products outside the mandatory list, the BIS mark can still be obtained voluntarily as a quality signal. But for the mandatory categories, there is no choice.
Always verify the current mandatory list. The list of products under mandatory BIS certification is updated periodically by the Government of India. Before concluding whether your product is mandatory or voluntary, check the current list at bis.gov.in.
👥 Illustrative case — details changed for confidentiality
An e-commerce platform delisted their products after a customer complaint about quality. Reinstatement required proof of BIS certification and production quality records.
The challenge
They held a valid BIS licence — but had no production records to demonstrate that every batch had been tested and marked correctly. Stage-wise records simply did not exist.
Where Clicarity came in
They had deployed Clicarity after the delisting to track every production job. Each job captured the safety test result, the inspector name, and confirmation that the BIS licence number was applied. When they reapproached the platform, they presented 4 months of complete production records — every batch, every test, every sign-off.
The result
Products relisted. Platform also approved them for a premium supplier badge.
The records didn't just get us relisted — they gave us something to show buyers that most competitors cannot.
Cement, steel, and construction material manufacturers
Helmet and safety equipment manufacturers
Food items in mandatory BIS categories (baby food, packaged drinking water, etc.)
Pressure cookers and LPG equipment
∼ Worth considering (voluntary)
Manufacturers in non-mandatory categories wanting a quality signal for buyers
Exporters whose buyers recognise BIS as a quality credential
Businesses supplying government procurement (GeM) where BIS is preferred
— Check the mandatory list
If your product is not in the current mandatory list at bis.gov.in, BIS is voluntary for you
Import note: Foreign manufacturers selling regulated products in India must obtain BIS certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). An Indian agent is required.
03 —What it requiresWhat is checked
What BIS requires — from application through to annual surveillance.
1
Valid IS (Indian Standard) for your product
Your product must conform to the relevant Indian Standard. BIS tests samples against this standard during grant of licence and at every surveillance visit.
E.g. IS 1554 for PVC insulated cables. IS 2508 for safety helmets. Identify the correct IS number at bis.gov.in before applying.
2
Application with factory and test facility details
Application submitted via the BIS CRS portal. Includes factory address, production capacity, quality control equipment available, and test facility details.
E.g. Details of the in-house or third-party testing laboratory you use for pre-despatch testing.
3
Factory and product inspection by BIS officer
Before licence grant, a BIS officer visits your factory to inspect manufacturing processes and collect product samples for testing at a BIS-recognised laboratory.
Most common delay: Factory not ready for inspection when the officer arrives. Production equipment not matching what was declared in the application.
4
Batch-wise production and testing records
Once licensed, you must maintain records for every production batch: what was produced, what was tested, what passed, and that the BIS mark was correctly applied.
E.g. A production register with batch number, date, quantity, test results, and sign-off by the responsible person.Most common gap: Records maintained informally or not at all. BIS surveillance officers ask for this register and check it against production invoices.
5
Use of BIS mark exactly as licensed
The BIS mark must be applied exactly as specified in your licence — specific size, position, and licence number. Any deviation is a licence violation.
E.g. The licence number must appear adjacent to the BIS mark on every product and on the smallest unit of packaging.
6
Annual surveillance and renewal
BIS officers conduct surveillance visits — announced or unannounced — to check factory conditions, test randomly sampled products, and review records. Licence renewed annually.
Most common surveillance failure: Products fail laboratory test during surveillance visit. This can result in suspension or cancellation of licence.
What inspectors really check
A BIS surveillance officer arrives — announced or unannounced. They inspect the factory, collect samples for laboratory testing, and ask to see your batch-wise production and testing records. If samples fail the IS test or records are absent, the licence can be suspended.
Gap analysis checklist — tick what you already have
BIS licence obtained and valid for your product category
Licence number confirmed and renewal date tracked.
Correct Indian Standard (IS number) identified for your product
Verified at bis.gov.in.
Batch-wise production register maintained
Every batch: date, quantity, test results, responsible person sign-off.
BIS mark applied exactly as specified in licence
Correct size, position, and licence number on product and packaging.
Testing equipment calibrated and records current
Calibration certificates for all in-house test equipment.
Licence renewal submitted before expiry date
BIS licences require annual renewal.
Factory conditions match what was declared in the application
Any change in factory, equipment, or product must be reported to BIS.
0 of 7 complete
04 —Official bodyWho certifies in India
Who issues this in India — and how to verify it.
BIS Standard Mark licences are issued directly by the Bureau of Indian Standards — there are no intermediary certification bodies for domestic manufacturers. You apply and deal directly with BIS.
Apply only at bis.gov.in. The official CRS portal is the only legitimate route. BIS does not authorise third parties to accept applications on its behalf. Any consultant who says they can "get you BIS" is offering application assistance — they cannot influence the BIS decision and the fee goes directly to BIS.
BIS — Bureau of Indian Standards
Official regulator. Product certification, IS standards, and CRS portal.
Based on bis.gov.in. Actual timelines vary. Confirm with your CB.
BIS / ISI Mark Journey
Step 1
Identify your IS standard
Find the correct Indian Standard (IS number) for your product at bis.gov.in.
Step 2
Prepare factory & test records
Ensure your factory meets the IS requirements. Have test equipment available and calibrated.
Step 3
Apply via CRS portal
Submit application at bis.gov.in. Pay the application fee online.
Step 4
BIS factory inspection
A BIS officer visits your factory and collects samples for laboratory testing.
Step 5
Samples tested at BIS lab
BIS sends samples to a recognised laboratory. If they pass, licence is recommended.
Licence granted
Annual renewal
Licence issued. Annual renewal and surveillance visits thereafter.
▶Where to begin: Use the checklist in Section 3 to assess your readiness before contacting any CB.
Processing timeline
Varies by product category
Depends on complexity and laboratory test schedule. Check current timelines at bis.gov.in.
Licence validity
Annual renewal
BIS Standard Mark licences require annual renewal.
Application fee
Check at bis.gov.in
Fee varies by product category. Current schedule at bis.gov.in.
Surveillance
Announced or unannounced
BIS can visit at any time after licence is granted.
Factory readiness is the most common delay. If the BIS officer finds the factory does not match the application, or equipment is not calibrated, the process is delayed. Get your factory ready before applying.
06 —Find certified companiesHow to verify
How to find and verify certified organisations.
BIS licences are issued to specific manufacturers for specific products. To verify whether a product carries a genuine BIS mark, check the licence number on the product against the BIS database at bis.gov.in.
How to verify: To confirm whether any organisation holds a current BIS / ISI Mark certification, use the official register. Verify the issuing CB's accreditation at nabcb.qci.org.in.
Walk your production floor as if you are the BIS officer. Calibration certificates current? Test equipment working? Production records being maintained? Fix gaps before the officer arrives.
3
Apply via the BIS CRS portal — pay fees directly to BIS
Submit your application at bis.gov.in. All fees paid directly to BIS. No intermediary required.
Good records are the foundation. A process tracker builds them automatically.
Clicarity — Live Job Process Tracker & Bottleneck Identifier
Clicarity doesn't get you a BIS licence. It tracks your production process — and that tracking creates the batch-wise quality records BIS requires you to maintain.
BIS Standard Mark licensees must maintain batch-wise production and testing records. Every batch must be traceable — what was produced, what was tested, what passed, and that the BIS licence number was correctly applied. In Clicarity, every job starts with the BIS licence number captured at creation. As it moves through production stages, safety test results and inspector sign-offs are recorded via custom fields. When jobs split into product variants, each is tested independently. When they rejoin, the complete test record of every variant is preserved as one traceable job.
BIS licence number captured at job creation — every batch traceable to the specific licence under which it was manufactured.
Safety test stage captures: tester name, sample size, pass/fail result, and test report reference — the batch testing record BIS surveillance officers ask for.
When a job splits into product variants (sizes, ratings, colours), each variant is tested independently. When they rejoin, the full test history of every variant is preserved.
Clicarity shows stage-wise yield — input vs output vs rejects per batch — which supports the manufacturing data BIS requires for licence renewal and surveillance audits.
📄 Job tracked in Clicarity
#WO-8831 — BIS-marked ceiling fan — 200 units
Job created
✎Product model
#Qty ordered
📅Target date
✎BIS licence no.
▼Customer
→
Raw material receipt
▼Supplier
✎Material spec
#Qty received
▼Condition
📷Photo
→
Motor winding
#Qty in
#Qty completed
▼Operator
▼Machine no.
#Rejects
→
Blade & body assembly
#Qty in
#Qty assembled
▼Operator
▼Shift
#Rejects
▼ Job splits — each component tracked independently
#WO-8831-A
48-inch variant — 120 units
▼Operator
#Qty
▼Colour confirmed
#WO-8831-B
36-inch variant — 80 units
▼Operator
#Qty
▼Colour confirmed
▲
Components rejoin as #WO-8831 — complete record of every branch, every data point, every sign-off preserved.
Electrical safety test
▼Tester
#Sample size
▼Pass / Fail
✎Test report ref.
📷Photo
→
BIS mark application
#Qty marked
✎BIS licence no. on product
▼Inspector
📅Date
→
Packing & despatch
#Qty packed
#Qty despatched
📅Despatch date
✎Invoice no.
Wastage tracked:▰ Motor winding: rejects recorded at stage▰ Each size variant tracked through safety test independently▰ BIS licence number confirmed on product before despatch
ⓘ Fields and stage names are fully customisable. This illustrates a typical BIS-marked electrical product manufacturer setup.
👥 Illustrative case — details changed for confidentiality
An e-commerce platform delisted their products after a customer complaint about quality. Reinstatement required proof of BIS certification and production quality records.
The challenge
They held a valid BIS licence — but had no production records to demonstrate that every batch had been tested and marked correctly. Stage-wise records simply did not exist.
Where Clicarity came in
They had deployed Clicarity after the delisting to track every production job. Each job captured the safety test result, the inspector name, and confirmation that the BIS licence number was applied. When they reapproached the platform, they presented 4 months of complete production records — every batch, every test, every sign-off.
The result
Products relisted. Platform also approved them for a premium supplier badge.
The records didn't just get us relisted — they gave us something to show buyers that most competitors cannot.
Clicarity is a process tracking tool. It does not provide certification, consulting, or audit services.