What is BIS certification?
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's national standards body. For hundreds of notified products, BIS certification is mandatory — the product cannot be manufactured, imported, stored or sold in India without it. Certification proves that your product conforms to the relevant Indian Standard (IS).
The two main schemes
1. ISI Mark (Scheme I)
The classic ISI mark licence. It involves:
- Application with technical documentation
- Testing of samples at a BIS-recognised laboratory
- Factory inspection by BIS officers
- Ongoing surveillance and marking fee
Products: cement, steel, LPG cylinders, helmets, pressure cookers, toys, footwear, electrical appliances and many more.
2. Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS / Scheme II)
A registration model used mostly for electronics and IT products. It requires testing at a BIS-recognised lab, but no factory inspection. Registration is per product family and manufacturing location.
Step-by-step process
- Identify the standard — confirm which IS standard covers your exact product variant. Certko's database maps 1,400+ products to their standards.
- Prepare documentation — factory registration, plant and machinery list, test equipment list, quality control plan, trademark proof, and for imports an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR).
- Sample testing — submit samples to a BIS-recognised lab approved for your standard. Test charges vary widely between labs, so compare before committing.
- Factory inspection (ISI only) — BIS officers verify in-house testing capability and production process.
- Grant of licence — after clearing queries, BIS grants the licence. Renewals and surveillance follow.
How much does it cost?
| Component | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Lab testing | ₹5,000 – ₹5,00,000+ (standard-dependent) |
| BIS application & licence fee | ₹1,000 – ₹66,000 |
| Marking fee | Annual, product-dependent |
| Consultant (optional) | ₹25,000 – ₹1,50,000 |
The single biggest variable is lab testing. The same standard can cost 2-4x more at one lab than another — which is exactly why Certko publishes reported price ranges for every standard.
Common reasons applications get delayed
- Wrong standard or incomplete scope mapping
- Missing in-house test equipment for ISI licences
- Samples failing on marking/labelling clauses (easy to fix, often missed)
- Slow responses to BIS queries
How Certko helps
Certko combines a free product-to-standard database, a directory of 400+ BIS-recognised labs with real price intelligence, and a network of vetted consultants who manage the process end-to-end. Start with the free checker, then request a quote when you are ready.
