MeitY Issues Series Guidelines for BIS Registration Under IS/IEC 62368-1:2023
28. May 2026The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released the long-awaited series guidelines for products subject to the IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 standard, providing greater clarity for manufacturers seeking Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration. The new framework introduces a streamlined approach that allows multiple product variants to be covered under a single registration, potentially reducing testing and certification burdens for manufacturers and brand owners.
Under the newly published guidelines, applicants may register up to ten models as part of a single series, consisting of one Lead Model and up to nine Series Models. The Lead Model must represent the highest power rating or worst-case configuration within the series and will serve as the basis for testing and compliance evaluation. Electronic and ICT products usually require BIS Registration in order to be approved for import and sale in India.
Common Technical Requirements for Series Registration
To qualify for inclusion within a single series registration, all models must satisfy a range of common technical requirements. These include maintaining identical ingress protection (IP) ratings, construction class, enclosure characteristics, energy source classifications, safeguard systems, and input voltage specifications.
The guidelines further specify that products within a series must share the same classifications for electrical, power, and thermal energy sources and safeguards, including ES1–ES3, PS1–PS3, and TS1–TS3 categories. Additional provisions address products using external energy sources such as power adapters and power banks, mains-operated internal power supplies, and battery-operated devices.
MeitY has also established detailed product-specific criteria. For example, devices must use the same type of microphone or earphone configuration where applicable, maintain identical charging methods, and share the same display technology. Certain product variations will be treated as separate series, including smartwatches with and without SIM functionality, devices with and without displays, and products that differ in touch-screen capability.
Implications for Manufacturers and Market Access
The publication of the series guidelines represents a significant milestone in the implementation of IS/IEC 62368-1:2023. Manufacturers may now benefit from a more efficient registration process by grouping eligible product variants under a single BIS certification application, provided all prescribed technical conditions are met.
The guidelines also clarify requirements for products incorporating different processors. While processor variations are permitted within a series, the designated Lead Model must possess the highest Thermal Design Power (TDP) to ensure testing reflects the most demanding operating conditions.
With the release of the Series Guidelines, the Uniform Test Report Format (UTRF), and the empanelment of BIS-recognized laboratories for IS/IEC 62368-1 testing, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), importers, and brand owners can now move forward with new registrations and transition applications for products already registered under previous requirements. These developments provide greater regulatory certainty and support ongoing compliance efforts for market access in India.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
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