Bureau of Indian Standards

The Indian Standards Institution (ISI) came into existence on 6 January 1947 as a registered society with the objective of harmonious development of activities of standardisation, quality certification and marking. This set-up was provided statutory status through an Act of Parliament dated 26 November 1986 and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) came into existence as a national standards body of India on 1 April 1987 with a broadened scope and more powers, taking over the staff, assets, liabilities and functions of the ISI. The main functions of BIS include preparation and implementation of standards, operation of certification schemes both for products and systems, organisation and management of testing laboratories, creating consumer awareness and maintaining close liaison with international standards' bodies.

With its headquarters at Delhi, BIS has five regional offices at Kolkata, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. It has 33 branch offices in the country. The BIS is developing need-based standards in accordance with national priorities with the help of over 26,500 technical experts as members of the technical committees. The standardisation projects are properly screened within BIS to ensure their usefulness. During 2002-03,  446 standards were formulated. As on 31 March 2004, 17,928 Indian Standards are in force covering important segments of the economy, which help the industry in upgrading the quality of their goods and services.

The BIS Product Certification Marks Scheme provides the consumer an assurance of product quality conforming to national standards. The total number of operative licences was 17,798 as on 31 March 2004 covering almost 1,145 different items ranging from food products to electronics. This scheme is basically voluntary in nature. However, keeping in view the safety, health and mass consumption of certain products, it is made mandatory for 109 items like LPG cylinders, food colours, packaged drinking water, etc. In order to protect the common consumer against unscrupulous traders and manufacturers misusing the BIS Standard mark, enforcement raids will be carried out by various offices of the BIS and, where necessary, prosecution cases will be filed in the court of law.

Keeping in view, the consumer interest and market demand, Gold Jewellery Certification (popularly known as Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery) was started in April 2000 on a voluntary basis. The scheme is aimed at providing third party assurance to consumers on the purity of gold or its fineness. This scheme is operated through BIS network of Regional and Branch offices all over the country. So far over 730 jewellers have been certified under this scheme. A list of the BIS certified jewellers and the BIS recognised hallmarking centres were hosted on the BIS web-site.

The BIS has introduced certification scheme for foreign manufacturers and certification scheme for importers. Under the provisions of these schemes, foreign manufacturers can seek certification from the BIS for marking their products with the BIS Standard Mark and Indian importers can also seek the BIS certification for applying the BIS Standard Mark on the products being imported into the country. Under the BIS Certification scheme for foreign manufacturers, 37 licences have been granted so far. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce had issued a notification making compliance to Indian Standards for 109 items (covered under the BIS mandatory Certification Scheme) mandatory.

The BIS Quality System Certification Scheme based on International Standards of Quality Management (ISO 9001) has over 1,380 operative licences as on 31 March 2004. This scheme has received accreditation in 23 technology sectors from the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) of Netherlands, an international accreditation body of repute. The BIS has also started HACCP integrated Quality System Certification, which provides the dual benefit of award of certificate for HACCP and ISO 9000 through a single audit. It is helpful to exporters in the field of food and food products especially for exports to USA and Europe.

The BIS launched Environmental Management Systems Certification Scheme in 1997 as per IS/ISO 14001-1006. This scheme helps the industrial units to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection, prevention of pollution and compliance with environmental legislation. 88 licences have been granted in diverse technology areas. The BIS also launched Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification (OH&SM) as per IS 18001:2000 in January 2003 which essentially enables an organisation to define, plan and manage a policy and objectives taking into account legislatives, requirements and information about significant hazards and risks, which the organisation can control and over which it can be expected to have and influence to protect its employees and others, whose health and safety may be affected by the activities of the organisation.

To support the activity of product certification, a chain of eight laboratories has been established in five regions, i.e., Sahibabad, Mohali, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai and at some of the Branch Offices, namely, Patna, Bangalore and Guwahati. Around 30,000 samples are being tested in BIS laboratories every year in addition to samples being sent to external recognised labs. During 2003-04, 30140 samples were tested in BIS laboratories. Training programmes on testing of various products are organised by these labs. During 2003-04, 12 such programmes were organised.

Since its inception 1947, the then ISI and now BIS has been an active member of International Organisations, namely, International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and International Electro-technical Commission (IEC). It participates in various policy-making committees of these international standards bodies. The BIS also holds a secretariat of some of the important ISO/IEC Committees, which are of trade interest to India. As a member of the ISO, the BIS also takes active part in the development of International Standards with a view to protect the interests of Indian trade and industry. Recently, acknowledging the active involvement of the BIS in International Standardisation activity, the ISO has offered the position of Regional Liaison Officer (ILO) for South Asia Region to Direct General, BIS. India is a certifying member of the IEC System of Quality Assessment of Electronic Components (IECQ) and IEC System for Conformity Testing to Standards for Safety of Electrical Equipment (IECEE). The BIS is also functioning as the Central Enquiry Point under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for providing worldwide information on standards, certification system and technical regulations to the Indian industry and trade.

The BIS had set up, in May 1997, a single window information and an SSI Facilitation Cell at its headquarters in New Delhi. The main objective is to provide variety of information/assistance to Indian industries particularly the small-scale sector. A number of entrepreneurs, consumer and professionals visit this centre for their queries.

Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award was instituted in 1991 to inculcate the spirit of competitiveness among the manufacturers. The annual award compares with similar international awards such as Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award of USA and European Quality Award.

The BIS had set up a separate Training Department in Delhi in 1995 to meet the growing need of the industry. It is operating under the name of National Institute of Training for Standardisation (NITS). It conducts training programme for industry as well as for the BIS employees on Management Systems, SQC, etc. The NITS also conduct, International Training Programme for Developing Countries.

Recently, the BIS has taken some new initiatives/reforms which include reduction in the time taken for standards formulation, restructuring of technical committees and outsourcing of Standards Formulation activity to have a more proactive approach. Under Certification, the power for grant of licence has been decentralised, application form for grant of licence simplified, time norms for grant of licence reduced, focused monitoring of selected consumer products, participation of NGOs and VCOs, and outsourcing of inspection incorporated to bring in more transparency in the certification system.