An ISI mark licence is granted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, after BIS assesses your factory and confirms that the product conforms to the relevant Indian Standard. There are two routes: Option 1 (the normal procedure), where samples are drawn and tested before grant, and Option 2 (the erstwhile simplified procedure), where you apply with a conforming third-party test report and the licence can be granted faster. Which route you can use depends on the product and on who you are.
How ISI certification works
BIS describes its approach clearly in its Grant of Licence guidelines dated 4 February 2025: a licence is granted after assessing the manufacturing infrastructure, production process, quality control and testing capability through a factory visit, and after establishing product conformity through third-party testing, factory testing or both.
Applications are made in Form-V on the Manak Online portal, together with a self-evaluation-cum-verification report. Whichever route you take, the licence will require you to:
- cover your entire production of that product under the licence and the Standard Mark,
- operate the Scheme of Inspection and Testing (SIT) for the product, and
- display and reference the licence as required by BIS.
Option 1: the normal procedure
Under Option 1, you submit the application and documents first. BIS then:
- Visits the factory to assess infrastructure, process controls and in-house testing.
- Draws samples (and counter-samples) for the product varieties to be covered, and raw material samples where the standard requires.
- Has the samples tested in a BIS laboratory or a BIS-recognised third-party laboratory, or relies on factory testing for products listed for that purpose (typically bulky items that are hard to transport).
- Decides on the grant once documentation, the factory assessment and the test results are satisfactory.
As per the BIS guidelines of 4 February 2025, at the time of writing, Option 1 grant is expected within 90 days of receipt of the application, provided everything is found satisfactory at the first instance. Under this route the applicant bears the testing charges.
Option 2: the simplified procedure
Under Option 2, you get samples of your own production tested at a BIS-recognised (or BIS-empanelled government) laboratory before applying, and submit the conforming report with the application. BIS then:
- Visits the factory and draws a single verification sample from the variety to be covered.
- Checks proof that the sample has been dispatched to the laboratory and that the advance annual minimum marking fee has been paid.
- Grants the licence on a satisfactory visit, while the verification sample is being tested.
As per the same BIS guidelines, at the time of writing, Option 2 grant is expected within 30 days of receipt of the application if the factory visit is satisfactory and conformity is established at the first instance. The testing fee for the verification sample is treated as part of the annual minimum marking fee rather than charged separately.
The trade-off is risk. If the verification sample fails, BIS suspends the licence immediately. The licensee must take corrective action and offer fresh samples, and if those fail or nothing is offered within 30 days, the licence is processed for cancellation. You also sign an undertaking accepting these consequences.
Test report age under Option 2
The guidelines state that the product test report should be no more than 90 days old when the application reaches the BIS branch office. Where multiple reports are used, the latest should be within 90 days and the oldest within 180 days. Products with long-duration tests (30 days or more) can be handled with an undertaking, with the licence processed for cancellation if those results are non-conforming or not submitted on time.
Normal vs simplified: side-by-side
| Option 1 (normal) | Option 2 (simplified) | |
|---|---|---|
| Test report needed at application | No | Yes, from a BIS-recognised or empanelled lab |
| Factory visit before grant | Yes | Yes |
| Samples drawn by BIS | As per product guidelines, plus counter-samples | One verification sample plus counter-sample |
| Grant decision | After sample results | After visit and proof of sample dispatch |
| Expected processing (per BIS guidelines, Feb 2025) | Within 90 days | Within 30 days |
| Testing charges for BIS-drawn samples | Borne by applicant | Subsumed in annual minimum marking fee |
| If sample fails | Application may be rejected | Licence suspended immediately |
| Available to foreign manufacturers | Yes (the only route) | No |
Who must use which route
You do not always get to choose:
- Products listed for Option 2. BIS publishes a list of products under the simplified procedure. For products categorically listed under a specific option, switching between options is not permitted.
- Products restricted to Option 1. The guidelines list products that are processed exclusively under Option 1.
- Foreign manufacturers. All applications from foreign manufacturers are processed under Option 1, through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme.
- Previously cancelled licences. If a licence for the same product at the same premises was cancelled, expired or surrendered due to non-conforming samples, a fresh application can only go under Option 1.
- All-India first applications. Where no licence has ever been granted for the standard, the application is normally considered under Option 1 unless a third-party lab is already available.
Note: BIS revises its Grant of Licence guidelines from time to time, and product-specific guidelines can change sampling, grouping and factory testing rules. The figures above are from the guidelines dated 4 February 2025, which were current at the time of writing. Always check the latest version on bis.gov.in before filing.
Practical checklist before you apply
- Confirm the correct Indian Standard and its latest amendment, and whether a QCO makes it compulsory.
- Check that you have the in-house test equipment and trained personnel the SIT requires. Lack of testing facilities or technical staff is listed as a ground for rejection.
- Calibrate test equipment and keep records; certification officers verify these during the visit.
- Find a recognised laboratory for your standard using the BIS lab search by IS number.
- Prepare raw material evidence where the product standard requires it.
- Under Option 1, be ready to offer samples promptly. BIS can reject an application if samples are not offered for testing within 30 days of the application being recorded.
- Under Option 2, plan sample delivery: BIS reviews proof of delivery to the lab after grant.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech supports manufacturers through ISI licensing: identifying the right standard and route, preparing the application and self-evaluation report, readiness checks for the factory visit and follow-up with BIS. Our team includes former BIS officers who have worked with the Scheme-I process from the inside, which helps when a product sits in a grey area. Read more on our ISI mark certification service.