BIS Compliance: A Critical Gatekeeper for Entering India’s Heavy Industries
For global manufacturers and EPC players, BIS compliance is not a formality—it’s a market-entry requirement. India mandates BIS certification for heavy industrial products to ensure safety, quality, and regulatory alignment. Without it, imports can be delayed, approvals stalled, and investments put at risk. Planning BIS compliance early is essential for a smooth India entry and scale-up.
Key Points
- Mandatory for selling or manufacturing heavy industrial products in India
- Impacts imports, local production, and government tenders
- Non-compliance can halt market entry and disrupt supply chains
- Early compliance planning reduces cost, delays, and regulatory risk
How Tecnova Enables BIS-Compliant Market Entry into India
Tecnova helps global companies navigate India’s BIS framework with clarity and confidence. From identifying applicable standards to managing certifications and regulatory coordination, Tecnova ensures your India expansion stays compliant, predictable, and on schedule—without regulatory surprises.
Key Points
BIS Compliance for Heavy Industries in India
Are you willing to tap into India’s booming heavy industries market? Then, BIS compliance is something that you should be aware of.
The heavy industry market in India is expected to rise in 2025. The primary reason behind this surge is the constant push by the Indian Government for manufacturing and infrastructural improvement.
Consequently, heavy industrial sectors like mining machinery are projected to touch USD 277.44 billion in 2032 from USD 189.46 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%.
That is why India stands as a profitable market to global heavy industry players. However, to successfully enter India, foreign businesses must follow BIS compliance for heavy industries.
In this blog, let us explore the importance of BIS compliance and how it can make or break your market access.
Why does BIS Compliance matter now more than ever?
Regulations of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are the Indian quality standards to meet the global benchmarks. Currently, over 23,000 Indian Standards are in action. In 2025, the BIS compliance audit in India became stricter than ever, adding over 769 products under compulsory certification.
The list includes various heavy industrial products, from electrical transformers to construction-grade steel. For global companies, BIS compliance is non-negotiable. Here’s why it matters now more than ever:
● Fail-safe enforcement: Indian customs officials digitally cross-check BIS certifications before clearing all imports.
● Industrial safety demands: Faulty heavy industrial products can cause accidents and environmental damage.
● ‘Make in India’ initiative: Local manufacturing push like ‘Make in India’ is enforced to protect Indian consumers and industries.
● Seamless global supply chain: Many sub-par and raw materials of the heavy industry are imported. BIS compliance for heavy industry ensures their traceability, reducing the risk of trade friction.
For heavy industries, the Government of India introduced the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order in 2024. It mandates BIS certification under Scheme X for certain machinery categories, including pumps and cranes.
6 Key challenges in achieving BIS Compliance for Heavy Industries
1. Complex technical standards
The landscape of heavy industrial BIS certification is vast and confusing. Most heavy industrial goods have different characteristics, from electrical to mechanical. This increases the confusion in identifying Indian Standards (IS) for each product. For example, gear and transmission fall under multiple IS/IEC norms together.
2. Long lead times
Product testing and approval take time. The BIS certification process in India can take months to complete, especially if the product falls under a new or high-risk category of Scheme X. However, when new QCOs are introduced, companies and suppliers get a grace period for transition.
For example, the Steel Ministry published a BIS exemption circular, offering a temporary break from strict compliance for both raw materials and finished steel products. This exemption provides immediate relief to businesses facing supply issues till 31st December 2025.
3. Cost constraints
Getting BIS certification is not a single-step process. It includes investment in the test setups, recruiting training personnel, acquiring lab approvals, etc. For many heavy industry firms, especially middle and small businesses, the cost of all these processes becomes a burden.
4. Evolving regulations
The BIS ecosystem in India is dynamic. New QCOs and standard revisions are introduced frequently to elevate product quality and safety protocols.
For instance, in June 2025, BIS published 25 new standards and 72 revised standards. Keeping up with these evolving regulations can often lead to compliance issues.
5. Shifting deadlines
Initial deadlines sometimes shift. Suppose the final enforcement date of a particular BIS standard is set for 1st December, 2025. However, several provisional clauses have adjusted the transition period for certain equipment types. Businesses that fail to understand changes like these can result in missed certification and delayed market entry.
6. Cross-border collaboration
When parts are manufactured overseas or in multiple locations, coordinating compliance across diverse locations can be complicated. Foreign manufacturers must appoint an Authorised India Representative (AIR). An AIR will maintain a balance between business headquarters, local partners and BIS regulations in India.
7 Risks of Non-BIS Compliance for Heavy Industries
Non-compliance with BIS regulations is risky for businesses. For example, in 2025, BIS officials seized thousands of toys and hand blenders from the warehouse of an e-commerce giant as they were uncertified.
Without proper certification, businesses in India can encounter:
- Reputational damage leading to negative publicity and loss of consumer trust
- Delays in the procedures of customs and import rejection
- Seizure of the bulk of products and supply chain holdups
- Legal action from consumers under the Consumer Protection Act
- Loss of tenders and contractual projects, as they may require mandatory certification
- Cancellation of export licences
- Increased operational and surveillance costs.
As per the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016, the officials will file a criminal complaint against businesses for violating regulations. If needed, the court can also impose a fine of almost 10 times the total value of the involved goods.
4 Ways to assess your BIS readiness before Entering India
Now that you are all aware of the consequences of zero BIS compliance for heavy industries, you must prepare your business as per BIS readiness before entering India. Here are some tips:
- Map your Product: Identify the statutory standard of your product. The component or equipment you supply can either fall under existing QCOs or upcoming ones.
- Lab Testing: You can also select BIS-recognised labs or other accredited labs to test the components.
- Manufacturing Audit: If you have a manufacturing facility in India or use a foreign facility, ensure that it follows BIS safety protocols.
- Gap Analysis: Analysing the gaps between your existing system and BIS requirements will not only help you make your equipment BIS compliant but will also enhance the quality of your product.
Note: Whether you are a foreign manufacturer or an Indian brand sourcing products from a foreign facility, you can acquire a BIS certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
What to do if your business is not fully BIS‑Compliant?
After assessing the BIS readiness of businesses, in case of deficiencies, foreign firms can:
● Redesign the products to qualify the safety tests
● Facilitate internal quality audits to ingrain BIS-approved protocols in operations
● Conduct pilot projects to secure a Certificate of Conformity for the initial batch or limited models
● Legally ask for a grace period or interim exemptions, if your products fall under the newly published QCOs
● Collaborate with an Indian consulting firm like Tecnova to stay updated with the BIS landscape
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How can Tecnova help your business stay on the right side of the law?
Tecnova, with over 40 years of experience, has deep expertise in BIS compliance for heavy industries. Our firm will:
● Assist you through the full BIS certification process, from understanding your component needs to the final license acquisition
● Conduct a detailed review of your current setup to find gaps and make sure you are ready for BIS audits
● Keep an eye on changing BIS rules and deadlines to solve issues on your behalf
With our guidance, your business can avoid costly delays and ensure smooth market entry or growth in India’s heavy industries. Remember, BIS compliance for heavy industries in India is not just a legal necessity; it is a competitive advantage.
References
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