What is an Indian Standard (IS), and how does an IS number decide what your product is tested to?

An Indian Standard is the BIS rulebook for a product: what it must do and how it is tested. It is cited as 'IS', a number, sometimes a part number, and a year. For example, IS 13252 (Part 1):2010 is titled 'Information Technology Equipment - Safety Part 1: General Requirements' and is identical to IEC 60950-1:2005^[5].

A standard on its own is voluntary. It becomes compulsory when a Quality Control Order or the CRS order names it. Our IS codes library explains the main standards for electronics and appliances.

Read it left to right: prefix, number, part and section, then year of publication. The year matters most, because orders and labs work to a specific edition.

Often, but not always. Many Indian Standards adopt IEC or ISO standards word for word. IS 616:2017 is identical to IEC 60065:2014^[6], and IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 is identical to IEC 62368-1:2023^[16].

Some are 'modified' or 'technically equivalent', which means Indian changes. IS 15885 (Part 2/Sec 13):2012 for LED control gear is listed as modified/technically equivalent^[17], and so is IS 16102 (Part 1):2026 for LED lamps^[18]. A CB report to the IEC version is a starting point, not a guarantee; the BIS-recognised lab tests to the Indian text.

The manufacturer makes and tests the product to the standard. Importers and sellers are bound too: under the CRS order, no one may import, sell or distribute covered goods that do not conform to the Indian Standard and bear the Standard Mark^[19]. The BIS Act's definition of 'person' includes importers, distributors, retailers and sellers^[11].

The standard that applies comes from the order. Toys must meet IS 9873 parts and, for electric toys, IS 15644^[20]; see IS 9873. LED drivers under CRS follow IS 15885 (Part 2/Sec 13)^[13]; see IS 15885. Portable lithium batteries follow IS 16046 (Part 2):2018^[12]; see IS 16046.

A handful of standards cover most imported consumer goods. The scheme column tells you whether the mark is the CRS mark with an R-number or the ISI mark.

A ministry notifies an order that lists products against Indian Standards; from its implementation date, those products must meet the named standard and carry the mark. For electronics the order is the CRS order. The first was notified as S.O. 2357(E) of 7 September 2012^[13], replaced by the Electronics and IT Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, S.O. 1248(E) of 18 March 2021^[27].

CRS products are certified under Scheme-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations^[13], and BIS's list shows 66 categories, the latest being screen protectors for smartphones^[13]. Some entries are still pending: TV sets under IS 18112 from 26 January 2027, screen protectors from 1 April 2027 and standalone hard disks from 1 May 2027^[28]. For everything outside CRS, QCOs do the same job under Scheme-I; see Compulsory Registration Scheme and the ISI mark.

The IS decides what the lab tests and what the label must show. A BIS-recognised laboratory tests samples against the IS, and the report goes into the licence application; see BIS CRS test labs. The IS number then appears in the Standard Mark: the CRS mark carries the R-number and the Indian Standard reference^[9]. Product details required by the IS, such as model number, batch and manufacturer address, must also be marked^[9].

For ISI licences, a separate application is needed for each product standard and each factory^[10], and marking fees are notified per Indian Standard^[29]. BIS publishes a product manual per standard with sample sizes and tests; for helmets the sample is 9 helmets plus 3 m of chin strap^[30].

The standard says what to test; the BIS product manual says how BIS certifies against it: sample size, grouping of models, and factory test frequency. Importers rarely read them, but they decide how many samples you ship to the lab.

Manuals also group models. Pressure cookers are grouped by capacity: 1 to 6.5 litres, 7 to 15.5 litres and 16 to 24 litres^[33].

The order or BIS circular names the edition and sets a concurrent period when both old and new editions are accepted. After it ends, the old edition stands withdrawn.

Existing CRS licensees submit complete test reports to the new standard for all lead models through the 'Standard Revision/Amendment/Essential Requirement' option in their CRS login^[3]. BIS's 9 March 2026 guidelines list 38 CRS categories moving by 1 November 2028^[3].

An importer holds a CRS licence for a power adapter tested to IS 13252 (Part 1):2010, with renewal due in 2027.

• Renewal in 2027: allowed under the old standard, because renewals under IS 13252 or IS 616 are accepted up to 1 November 2028^[4].
• Migration: it tests its lead models to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 and applies through Standard Revision, at no BIS fee^[4].
• R-number: unchanged^[4].
• If it waits past 1 November 2028: the old standard stands withdrawn for CRS^[2].

Budget for lab fees in 2027-28, not in the last month. Use the BIS CRS fee calculator for the BIS side.

No, not without BIS's permission. Unauthorised reproduction of Indian Standards, or misuse of the BIS name or the words 'Indian Standard', can be fined up to Rs 5 lakh^[11]. Buy copies from BIS rather than using pirated PDFs, and do not print 'conforms to IS ...' on a product you have not certified.

For notified goods, it cannot legally be imported or sold. Section 17 of the BIS Act prohibits importing, selling or storing notified goods without a Standard Mark under a valid licence^[11]. A first contravention is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh, up to ten times the value of the goods^[11].

BIS can also direct a licensee to stop supply and recall non-conforming marked goods^[11]. Where a company offends, responsible directors and the authorised representative are deemed guilty too^[11]. See selling without BIS.

• Testing to the wrong version. A report to a superseded version may not be accepted once its concurrent period ends^[2].
• Assuming IEC equals IS. Some are 'modified'^[17].
• Wrong part. IS 16046 Part 1 and Part 2 cover different chemistries^[12].
• Wrong IS on the label. The mark must show the standard on the licence^[9].
• Old components after migration. Components certified only to IS 13252 or IS 616 are not accepted after migration^[4].
• One report for two factories. Separate reports are needed for different manufacturing locations^[4].

Find your product's standard with the approval checker, see the BIS CRS guide or BIS ISI mark, track orders on the QCO tracker, or ask for a free compliance check.