The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standards body of India, established to develop and promote standards for goods, services, processes, and systems.
- Establishment:
- BIS was established in 1986 under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, which replaced the earlier Indian Standards Institution (ISI) established in 1947.
- It operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
- Mandate:
- BIS is mandated to develop, maintain, and promote national standards to ensure the quality, safety, and reliability of products, processes, and services.
- Its primary objective is to protect consumer interests, promote public health and safety, and facilitate trade and commerce by establishing benchmarks and conformity assessment procedures.
- Functions:
- Standardization: BIS formulates and publishes standards for various products, processes, and systems across different sectors, including engineering, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and consumer goods.
- Certification: BIS operates a certification scheme through which manufacturers can obtain the BIS certification mark for their products, indicating compliance with relevant standards and quality requirements.
- Laboratory Testing: BIS operates testing laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to conduct quality testing and certification of products as per relevant standards.
- Product Certification: BIS offers product certification services to manufacturers for a wide range of products, including consumer goods, industrial equipment, electrical appliances, and building materials.
- Hallmarking: BIS administers the Hallmarking Scheme for precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, ensuring the purity and fineness of jewelry and precious metal articles.
- Training and Capacity Building: BIS conducts training programs, workshops, and seminars to create awareness about standards and quality management practices among stakeholders, including manufacturers, regulators, and consumers.
- Consumer Awareness: BIS undertakes initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of quality standards, certification, and conformity assessment among consumers through public education campaigns, outreach programs, and publications.
- Structure:
- BIS is governed by a Governing Council comprising representatives from the government, industry, academia, and consumer organizations.
- The council is headed by a Director-General appointed by the Central Government, who is responsible for the overall administration and management of BIS.
- BIS operates through its headquarters in New Delhi and regional offices located in various states and Union territories of India.
- International Collaboration:
- BIS collaborates with international standards organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to align Indian standards with global best practices and facilitate international trade.
- It participates in technical committees and working groups of international standards bodies to contribute to the development and harmonization of standards on a global scale.
- Public Participation:
- BIS encourages public participation in the standardization process by inviting comments, suggestions, and feedback from stakeholders during the formulation and revision of standards.
- It facilitates the participation of industry associations, consumer organizations, research institutions, and government agencies in the development and implementation of standards through consultative mechanisms and committees.
Overall, the Bureau of Indian Standards plays a pivotal role in promoting quality, safety, and reliability in Indian industry and commerce by establishing and enforcing national standards, certification schemes, and conformity assessment procedures.
