BIS and ISI difference is a common question among manufacturers, importers, and brand owners dealing with Indian product compliance. Although the terms are often used together, BIS and ISI are not the same and serve different roles in India’s conformity framework.

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is the national standards authority of India responsible for formulating Indian Standards (IS) and operating certification schemes. ISI, on the other hand, is a certification mark issued by BIS under the ISI Certification Scheme, indicating that a product complies with a specific Indian Standard.

In simple terms:

·         BIS is the authority/organization

·         ISI is a product certification mark granted by BIS

To obtain BIS Certification, manufacturers must first identify the applicable Indian Standard (IS) and confirm whether the product falls under the ISI Certification Scheme (license with factory audit and surveillance) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), which mainly applies to electronics and IT products.

Applicants then prepare a detailed compliance scope covering models, variants, ratings, and critical components. A complete documentation set is required, including technical drawings, specifications, BOM, safety declarations, quality system evidence, and labeling artwork correctly referencing the IS.

Product testing must be conducted at a BIS-recognized laboratory. During testing, application forms, brand authorizations, and—if the manufacturer is overseas—appointment of an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) are completed.

For CRS Registration, test reports and documents are submitted online to obtain a BIS Registration (R-Number). For products under the ISI Scheme, BIS conducts a factory audit, followed by ongoing surveillance and marking control procedures before granting a BIS License (CM/L Number) and permission to use the ISI Mark.

After approval, products must strictly follow BIS marking and packaging requirements, including proper use of the ISI Mark or CRS R-Number with the correct standard reference. Regular renewals and control over product changes are essential to maintain compliance.

In summary, the difference between BIS and ISI is that BIS governs standards and certification, while ISI is a certification mark issued by BIS to demonstrate product conformity with Indian Standards.