The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (BIS Act) is a landmark legislation enacted by the Indian Parliament to establish the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the national standards body. The Act replaced the earlier Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, to modernize and expand the scope of standardization, conformity assessment, and quality assurance in India. The BIS Act came into force on 12th October 2017, empowering the BIS to regulate and certify goods, articles, processes, systems, and services to ensure quality, safety, and consumer protection.
Indian Standards Institution (ISI): Established in 1947 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, it laid the foundation for standardization.
BIS Act, 1986: Granted statutory status to ISI, renaming it the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Need for Reform: Globalization, technological advancements, and consumer protection demands necessitated a more robust framework, leading to the 2016 Act.
The BIS Act, 2016, represents India’s commitment to quality infrastructure and consumer safety. By aligning with global best practices and expanding its regulatory ambit, the Act strengthens India’s position in international trade while safeguarding domestic consumers. However, continuous updates and stricter enforcement are needed to address new-age challenges.