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1. What is BIS Scheme X certification for India?
BIS Scheme X is a certification scheme of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for machinery and electrical equipment. The underlying regulation – the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation, OTR) of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) – was withdrawn in full on 14 January 2026. BIS Scheme X certification is therefore no longer required by law.
BIS Scheme X is a certification scheme of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), introduced under the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018 and expanded in 2022. It was designed specifically for machinery and electrical equipment falling under the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation), or OTR, of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) – including products of HS chapters 84 (machinery) and 85 (electrical machinery and equipment).
Scheme X was originally intended to make certification mandatory from 28 August 2025 for all machinery and plant categories listed in the OTR. After several postponements (most recently to 1 September 2026), the MHI withdrew the OTR in full on 14 January 2026. BIS Scheme X certification is thus not currently prescribed by law.
Manufacturers may still choose to certify voluntarily under Scheme X – for example to meet customer requirements, to prepare early for possible future regulation, or to provide visible evidence of product quality for the Indian market.
BIS Scheme X Certification at a Glance
| Feature | BIS Scheme X |
| Certificate validity | Voluntary; License: initial validity of 3 years, renewable thereafter; the CoC applies to the respective shipment/production batch |
| Certification duration | Varies depending on the scope of the application and the scheduling of audits and laboratory testing (no statutory deadline anymore) |
| Marking | BIS Standard Mark with CM/L number (for a License) or information as specified in the Certificate of Conformity |
| Testing required? | Yes, at an accredited laboratory in India in accordance with Type A/B/C standards |
| Factory audit required? | Yes, when applying for a License; generally not required for a CoC |
| Follow-up process | Only for a voluntary License: compliance evidence and market surveillance obligations analogous to Scheme I |
2. What certification types does BIS Scheme X offer?
Within Scheme X, BIS distinguishes between two certification types:
BIS Scheme X – License:
for manufacturers producing a product on a continuous basis. The license permits permanent use of the BIS Standard Mark. It is granted after successful assessment and, where applicable, a factory audit, and it can be renewed.
BIS Scheme X – Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
for machinery or electrical equipment that is not produced on a continuous basis (e.g. one-off builds, special-purpose plant, project business). The CoC confirms conformity for the specific delivery without requiring a permanent license.
3. Which product categories are affected by BIS Scheme X?
The OTR originally covered around 20 categories of machinery and electrical equipment, including industrial machinery, construction machinery and low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. Because the underlying regulation has been withdrawn, these categories are currently no longer subject to a certification requirement under Scheme X.
Companies supplying products from these categories to India should nevertheless check:
- whether individual components fall under Scheme I or Scheme II,
- whether customers contractually require voluntary Scheme X certification,
- whether the MHI announces a renewed, possibly amended regulation.
We will be glad to assist you with a case-by-case assessment of your products and your bill of materials.
4. How does the BIS Scheme X certification process work?
Voluntary certification under Scheme X follows the established BIS procedure at its core:
- Submitting the application with the technical documentation (the “Technical File”) to BIS.
- Determining whether a License (continuous production) or a Certificate of Conformity (single-unit production) is being applied for.
- Factory audit by a BIS auditor.
- Proof of conformity in accordance with the relevant Type A, B and C standards (including IS 16819:2018 / ISO 12100:2010 as the basic safety standard).
- Granting of the license or issuance of the Certificate of Conformity.
- Marking the product in accordance with the requirements of Scheme X.
As no statutory deadline applies any longer, the timeline depends on the scope of the application and on the availability of audit and laboratory appointments.
5. As a foreign manufacturer, do I need a local representative (Authorized Indian Representative – AIR)?
Yes. Foreign manufacturers seeking certification under Scheme X require an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) – a legal entity established in India or a person with permanent residence in India. The AIR submits the application on behalf of the manufacturer and is the central point of contact with BIS. As a rule, an AIR may represent only one foreign manufacturer.
Even though Scheme X is currently voluntary, the AIR requirement remains unchanged in the event of an application.
6. Follow-up inspections and requalification for the BIS Scheme X certificate
Companies that voluntarily opt for a License under Scheme X are subject to recurring verification obligations – as is the case with other BIS licenses:
- Possible follow-up audits in the context of market surveillance.
- In the event of changes to the product, the manufacturing process or materials: notification obligation and, where applicable, additional testing (see section 8).
As no statutory certification requirement currently exists, the corresponding follow-up testing obligation does not apply to non-licensed companies.
7. How are products marked under BIS Scheme X?
Products voluntarily certified under Scheme X may be marked with the BIS Standard Mark, provided a License has been granted. In addition, a license number (CM/L number) is issued and must be visibly stated on the product or its packaging. In the case of a Certificate of Conformity, marking follows the specifications set out in the certificate, without a continuous license number for series production.
8. Changes to existing BIS Scheme X certificates
The following changes are notifiable for an existing voluntary certification and may require a new assessment:
- Changes to the product design or construction (e.g. an additional material layer on the housing)
- Changes to safety-relevant key components (e.g. electrical components)
- Changes to raw materials or material suppliers
These rules apply regardless of whether certification was voluntary or mandatory. Anyone choosing Scheme X is subject to the same due diligence obligations as under the mandatory BIS schemes I and II.
9. Changes to BIS Scheme X standards
The standards relevant to Scheme X (Type A, B and C under the OTR framework, including IS 16819:2018 / ISO 12100:2010) may be amended by BIS and the MHI on an ongoing basis. Regulatory reversals – such as the withdrawal of the OTR itself in January 2026 – also show that the legal status can change at short notice.
10. What does BIS Scheme X mean for manufacturers? Key characteristics
- Regulatory volatility: No other BIS scheme has been postponed several times and finally withdrawn in full within such a short period (announcement 2024 → postponement to 2025 → to 1 September 2026 → withdrawal on 14 January 2026).
- Voluntariness as an opportunity: Companies can position themselves independently of a statutory obligation – for example vis-à-vis customers with their own quality requirements.
- No blanket exemption for the entire bill of materials: The withdrawal of Scheme X does not automatically relieve components that fall under Scheme I or II.
- Monitoring recommended: Given this history, a renewed (possibly modified) introduction of a mandatory regulation for machinery and electrical equipment cannot be ruled out.
MPR Leistungen
Your One-Stop Certification Solution.
Our complete package for product certifications for India.
A dedicated contact person for all BIS-related questions.
Assessment and clarification of applicable certification requirements of your products.
Preparation and review of all application documents.
Provision of a local Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).
Preparation and support for the factory audit process.
Organization and coordination of product testing in India.
Guidance on the correct marking and labeling of your products.
Complete management and coordination of certificate renewals and follow-up certifications.
Information on any changes of BIS Scheme X-requirements
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Frequently asked questions about BIS certification for India (FAQ)
No, the approval is currently not mandatory: the underlying OTR was withdrawn on 14 January 2026. However, please check whether individual components of your product fall under Scheme I or Scheme II. These remain mandatory without change. We will be glad to assist you with this.
As no statutory deadline applies any longer, the duration depends on the scope of the application, the availability of the factory audit (for a License) and laboratory testing. As a guideline: comparable BIS procedures involving a factory audit typically take 9–12 months from the date of application.
Review the relevant Type A/B/C standards at an early stage and, where possible, carry out an internal preliminary conformity assessment in order to identify deviations before the official assessment in India.
When applying for a License, the actual manufacturing site is audited – the site where the last quality-relevant production step takes place. Pure sales or warehousing sites are not audited.
For a License, with the BIS Standard Mark including the CM/L number; for a Certificate of Conformity, in accordance with the marking requirements set out in the certificate.
A License can be renewed in the same way as other BIS licences; a Certificate of Conformity is valid for the specific production run or delivery certified.
No. BIS does not provide proactive information, not even about far-reaching changes such as the withdrawal of the OTR. New QCOs and standards amendments are published exclusively in English on the official BIS website. Continuous regulatory monitoring, for example by MPR International, is recommended.
Sources and Currency
This article reflects the status as of 02.10.2026. It is based on the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018, the notifications of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) on the Omnibus Technical Regulation (OTR), as well as the publications of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Regulatory changes are published by BIS and MHI exclusively in English on their official websites.
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