Do All Electronics Require BIS Certification in India? (2026)

03-Jan-2026

Many manufacturers, importers, startups, and sellers in India often ask a common question: Do all electronic products require BIS Certification? The short answer is No, not all electronics require BIS certification. However, a large number of electronic and IT products are mandatorily covered under BIS regulations, and non-compliance can lead to heavy penalties, product seizure, and sales bans.

To understand this clearly, it is important to know how BIS certification works for electronics, which products are covered, and when certification is mandatory.

1. Understanding BIS Certification for Electronics

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulates electronic products mainly under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). This scheme was introduced to ensure that electronic goods sold in India meet minimum safety, quality, and performance standards.

Under CRS:

Products must be tested in BIS-recognized laboratories
Manufacturers must register their products with BIS
Registered products must carry the BIS Standard Mark with a registration number

Without this registration, covered electronics cannot be legally manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in India.

2. Do All Electronic Products Fall Under BIS CRS?

No, only electronics notified by the Indian government require mandatory BIS certification. BIS issues notifications listing products that must comply under CRS.

Electronics that typically require BIS certification include:

Mobile phones and smartphones
Laptops, tablets, and notebooks
Power adapters and chargers
LED lights, drivers, and luminaires
Televisions and monitors
Set-top boxes
Audio and video equipment
Power banks
Smartwatches and wearable devices
IT peripherals like printers and scanners

These products are widely used by consumers and pose electrical, fire, or safety risks if not manufactured properly. Therefore, BIS certification is mandatory for them.

3. Electronics That May Not Require BIS Certification

Certain electronic products may not currently be covered under the CRS list. These include:

Industrial-use electronics not notified under CRS
R&D or prototype devices (not for commercial sale)
Products imported exclusively for export purposes
Custom-built or non-standard electronic equipment

However, absence from the current list does not mean permanent exemption. The government frequently updates the CRS list, and products not covered today may become mandatory in the future.

4. Mandatory Nature Depends on Product Notification, Not Usage

A common misunderstanding is that certification depends on how the product is used. In reality:

BIS certification depends on whether the product category is notified
Commercial sale, import, or manufacture triggers compliance
Even small quantities sold online or offline must comply

This means e-commerce sellers, startups, and importers are equally responsible for BIS compliance if their product falls under CRS.

5. BIS Certification Is Mandatory for Both Indian and Foreign Manufacturers

Whether electronics are:

Manufactured in India, or
Imported from China, Europe, or any other country

BIS certification is mandatory if the product is listed under CRS. Foreign manufacturers must apply through the FMCS route or CRS registration with an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).

6. Consequences of Selling Electronics Without BIS Certification

Selling or importing electronics without mandatory BIS certification can lead to:

Product seizure by customs or enforcement agencies
Heavy monetary penalties
Cancellation of import licenses
Legal action under the BIS Act, 2016
Blacklisting of manufacturers or importers

These risks make BIS compliance critical for long-term business operations.

Conclusion

To summarize, not all electronics require BIS certification, but many commonly used electronic and IT products do under the Compulsory Registration Scheme. If an electronic product is notified by BIS, certification becomes legally mandatory, regardless of business size or sales volume. Businesses must regularly check the updated CRS product list to remain compliant and avoid penalties in 2026 and beyond.

manufacturers future mandatory nature depends product notification usagea common misunderstanding certification depends product covered today reality product category notifiedcommercial sale import manufacture triggers complianceeven small quantities sold online offline complythis means e-commerce sellers bis certification depends government frequently updates permanent exemption current list safety risks manufactured properly bis certification require bis certificationcertain electronic products crs list include industrial- notified crsr& prototype devices commercial sale products imported exclusively export purposescustom-built -standard electronic equipmenthowever absence equally responsible bis compliance product falls indian enforcement agenciesheavy monetary penaltiescancellation import licenseslegal action bis act 2016blacklisting importersthese risks make bis compliance critical long-term business operations conclusionto summarize commonly electronic product legally mandatory business size sales volume businesses regularly check updated crs product list customs fire mandatory bis certification bis certificationselling foreign manufacturerswhether electronics manufactured orimported china europe countrybis certification listed foreign manufacturers apply fmcs route crs registration authorized indian representative air consequences selling electronics importing electronics remain compliant pose electrical widely important bis certification works electronics covered certification mandatory understand understanding bis certification indian standards bis regulates electronic products compulsory registration scheme crs scheme electronicsthe bureau sales bans product seizure heavy penalties importers startups sellers india common question electronic products require bis certification short answer electronics require bis certification large number electronic products mandatorily covered bis regulations -compliance lead introduced ensure electronic goods sold india meet minimum safety bis issues notifications listing products comply typically require bis certification include mobile phones smartphoneslaptops tablets notebookspower adapters chargersled lights drivers luminairestelevisions monitorsset-top boxesaudio video equipmentpower bankssmartwatches wearable devicesit peripherals printers scannersthese products indian government require mandatory bis certification consumers electronics notified electronic products fall quality performance standards tested bis-recognized laboratoriesmanufacturers register bisregistered products carry bis standard mark registration numberwithout registration covered electronics legally manufactured imported sold distributed bis crs avoid penalties