BIS Glossary
Key terms in Indian Standards and BIS certification — click any term for the full definition.
- BIS
- Bureau of Indian Standards — India's national standards body, established under the BIS Act 2016.
- Indian Standard (IS)
- A technical specification document published by BIS defining requirements for materials, products, processes, or services.
- ISI Mark
- Indian Standards Institution Mark — BIS's product conformity mark for manufacturers who meet the relevant Indian Standard.
- QCO
- Quality Control Order — a government notification making BIS certification mandatory for a specific product category.
- Scheme I
- BIS product certification scheme for domestic manufacturers, resulting in an ISI Mark licence.
- FMCS
- Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme — BIS Scheme II for overseas manufacturers exporting to India.
- CRS
- Compulsory Registration Scheme — BIS certification for electronics and IT products, based on lab testing with no factory inspection.
- AIR
- Authorised Indian Representative — an India-registered entity appointed by a foreign manufacturer to interface with BIS for FMCS.
- HUID
- Hallmark Unique ID — a 6-character alphanumeric code mandatory on every hallmarked jewellery piece in India.
- Scheme VII
- BIS certification for products manufactured under a foreign licence agreement, where the Indian licensee seeks ISI Mark.
- Simplified Procedure
- A reduced-fee BIS certification path for artisans, cottage industry units, and micro-enterprises.
- BIS Act 2016
- The Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 — legislation governing BIS functions, certification, hallmarking, and non-compliance penalties.
- IS Number
- The unique identifier for an Indian Standard — formatted as "IS XXXX" or "IS XXXX : YYYY".
- Amendment
- A formal modification to an existing Indian Standard issued between full revisions.
- Marking Fee
- A per-unit fee paid by ISI Mark licence holders to BIS for each product unit bearing the ISI Mark.