BIS vs ISI is a common question among manufacturers, importers, and brand owners dealing with product compliance in India. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, BIS and ISI have distinct roles in India’s conformity framework.

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) is India’s national standards authority responsible for developing Indian Standards (IS) and administering product 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 certifying authority

·         ISI is the product conformity mark granted by BIS

To obtain BIS Certification, manufacturers must first identify the applicable Indian Standard (IS) and determine 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 define product scope (models, variants, ratings, and critical components) and prepare a complete documentation set, including technical drawings, specifications, BOM, safety declarations, quality system evidence, and labeling artwork referencing the IS.

Product testing is conducted at a BIS-recognized laboratory. While testing is in progress, application forms, brand authorizations, and—if the manufacturer is overseas—the 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 comply with BIS marking and packaging rules, maintain surveillance records, and track renewals and product changes to remain compliant.

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