Bis

Rising debt, AI boom and financial fragilities raise global risks: BIS

Bank for International Settlements said rising public debt, financial vulnerabilities and uncertainties surrounding the AI boom are increasing risks to the global economy, despite resilient growth

Govt extends QCO deadline for non-leather footwear MSMEs to July 2027

The government has provided one more year till July 31, 2027 to micro and small enterprises from non-leather footwear sector to comply with the mandatory quality control order. The move would give smaller footwear manufacturers more time to obtain BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification. It has also allowed footwear manufacturers to import up to 4,500 pairs annually for research, design development, testing, and other non-commercial purposes without meeting QCO (quality control order) requirements. However, these imported footwear have to be marked as "NOT FOR SALE" and have to be disposed of as scrap. Amending the footwear made from all rubber and all polymeric material and its components (Quality Control) order, 2024, the Department For Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) order said in a provision, "for figures, letters and word '31st July, 2026', the figures, letters and word '31st July, 2027' shall be substituted". Commenting on the order, think tank GTRI s

BIS issues seed bank framework to preserve climate-resilient crops

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published a new voluntary management framework for community seed banks, aimed at protecting traditional crop varieties as climate change threatens the country's agricultural heritage. The standard, IS 20201:2026, lays out requirements covering the full lifecycle of seed bank operations 'from collection and viability testing to storage, documentation and regeneration practices' and is available free of charge on the BIS portal. The consumer affairs ministry said native seed varieties, many of which carry traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and high nutritional value, represent a critical strategic resource for an agrarian economy grappling with erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. "By offering a standardised operating protocol for decentralised, community-led seed banks, IS 20201:2026 aims to promote conservation of these indigenous varieties," the ministry said in a statement. The certifiable standard was developed under

Govt exempts foreign investors from tax on G-Secs: Why does this matter?

The move comes amid sustained pressure on the rupee and persistent foreign portfolio outflows, with the exemption set to apply to income earned on or after April 1, 2026

BIS lays groundwork for new E22-E30 fuel blends amid ethanol push

BIS has issued standards for E22-E30 fuel blends as India prepares the technical framework for higher ethanol use in petrol-powered vehicles

Panel backs prepaid PNG metering, PLI support for smart meter makers

A panel has proposed prepaid smart PNG metering nationwide and suggested PLI support for manufacturers to boost adoption, improve billing efficiency and strengthen CGD finances

Govt extends aluminium can certification timeline, industry welcomes move

The government has extended the timeline for the rollout of mandatory quality control norms for aluminium cans used in the food processing and beverages industry, providing relief to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage makers, from cola makers to beer brewers. The move is hailed by the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage makers, who have stated that the extension order will help to bridge the gap between demand and supply before the arrival of the peak summer season. The Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Order, 2026, will be implemented for large arms from October 2026, for small units from January next year, and for micro enterprises from April 2027. As per the order, these goods will have to conform to the respective Indian standards and shall bear the Standard Mark under a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It was issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on January 15. DPIIT is an arm of th

Govt rescinds QCO on viscose staple fibre to ease raw material access

Economic Secretary Anuradha Thakur urges the Indian financial sector to embrace disintermediation but ensure credit reaches MSMEs for equitable, sustained 8% GDP growth

No BIS certification required: QCOs for plastics, synthetic fibres scrapped

The directive, which came into effect on November 12, aims to improve raw material availability for downstream industries

NMDC Steel becomes 1st Indian firm to get BIS license for hot rolled steel

The NSL operates with a capacity of 3 million tonne per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant located at Nagarnar in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh

Time to rethink India's quality standard system and its framework

A 2016 amendment to the BIS Act broadened the government's authority to mandate compliance with compulsory standards

BIS exemption granted to 202 foreign manufacturers: Steel Ministry

The steel ministry said these exemptions are an ongoing process, and more licences may be exempted as requests are received

New elevator code may raise prices by 2-5%: Kone Elevator India MD

Customers can absorb price hikes, he added

Over 91% of toys tested by BIS found compliant with quality norms

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has found 91 per cent of the 17,860 samples of toys compliant with the quality control order since its implementation in January 2021, reflecting availability of quality products in the domestic market. The bureau has undertaken extensive enforcement activities following the implementation of the Toy (Quality Control) Order in January 2021, said Anil Kapri, Director and Head (Western Regional Lab), BIS, Mumbai. "To keep a check on the quality of certified toys available in the market, BIS is consistently increasing the number of samples drawn for testing. The data since 2021 reflects an upward trend in surveillance activity," said a senior official at Department of Consumer Affairs in the central government. "Moreover, it is evident that an increasingly higher proportion of these samples are found to be in compliance with Indian Standards, indicating a positive shift in the overall quality of toys available in the market," the official added. As

MSMEs must comply with quality standards: Consumer Affairs Secretary

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare on Wednesday asked MSMEs to comply with voluntary as well as mandatory quality standards while manufacturing products and urged them to be more proactive in sharing problems and seeking solutions. Addressing a conference here, she noted that India is poised to become the third largest economy in the world, and the MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) will have a major role to play in achieving this. The secretary said MSMEs need to be more proactive in sharing their problems and asked the industry to demand new standards as well as participate in formulation of these quality norms. She highlighted that the government in the past few years have taken various steps to ensure that people get quality products. Recently, Rs 78 crore has been approved to strengthen existing testing labs and set up new ones. "Ultimately, any nation which grows has to ensure credibility of its goods and services. There cannot be any abstinence, or there cannot

BIS intensifies crackdowns e-comm warehouses, seizes substandard products

Earlier this week, officials conducted a search and seizure operation at the warehouse of Amazon Sellers Pvt Ltd, located in the Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area in Delhi

BIS raids Amazon, Flipkart warehouses; over 10,000 uncertified items seized

BIS raids Amazon and Flipkart warehouses at multiple locations, seizing substandard toys, blenders, bottles, electric water heaters, and speakers, violating the BIS Act 2016

BIS to prioritise development of standards for 214 critical medical devices

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Monday said it is prioritising development of standards for 214 critical medical devices, which are set for phased completion by December 2025. These devices, which include septal closure devices, plasma sterilizers, and phototherapy machines, are in line with the National Medical Device Policy, 2023 and have been identified in consultation with Department of Pharmaceuticals. BIS, in a statement, said the national standards body is developing standards for innovative products such as therapeutic footwear, portable ramps, braille displays, and fall detectors, which support individuals with disabilities. BIS has published over 1,700 standards for the medical sector, covering specialities such as cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and more. Of these, around 1,200 standards specifically focus on medical devices critical to healthcare. BIS standards in this sector ensure that Indian medical devices are safe, effective, and globall

Nike, Mitsubishi struggle to get Indian certification for Chinese vendors

Nike, Mitsubishi, and Carrier, among others, are having difficulty obtaining Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for their vendor factories in China

RBI deploys 81.43% of foreign currency assets in overseas securities

The share of money kept in deposits with other central banks and the Bank for International Settlement (BIS) declined to 13.49 per cent at the end of September from 14.82 per cent at the end of March