Context: 

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) celebrated its 78th Foundation Day on 6th January 2025. 

More on the News

• On the occasion, the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister highlighted the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Zero Defect, Zero Effect’ and put emphasis on making quality products with zero defects that are sustainable, eco-friendly and have zero effect on the environment. 
• Additionally, BIS formalised collaborations with academic institutions through the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster innovation, improve industry practices, and advance sustainable development goals.

Indian Standards and Quality Products Scenario

• About 94% of Indian standards have been harmonised with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.
• Quality Control Orders (QCOs):  It has increased from just 14 QCOs covering 106 products that were notified for compulsory BIS certification and implementation of Indian Standards in 2014 to 186 QCOs covering 760 products in 2024.

Since the launch of the Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID) based system in 2021 for hallmarking, 44.28 crore articles of gold jewellery/artefacts have been hallmarked as of November 2024.

• HUID is a new online system for the automation of the assaying & hallmarking activities with the new Hallmark consisting of a six-digit HUID (Hallmarking Unique ID)
• The government currently mandates BIS for hallmarking only gold jewellery and artefacts.

About the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• BIS is a statutory body established in 1986 under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. 
• It is the National Standard Body of India established for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods. 

Origin & Evolution: 

• Indian Standards Institution (ISI) was established on 6th January 1947 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 
• In order to give statutory status to ISI, the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 was passed. 
• Thus, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) came into existence on 1st April 1987, taking over the functions of erstwhile ISI, with broadened scope and vested with more powers. 
• Later on in 2016, the BIS Act 2016 was passed (which repealed the Act of 1986) that reinforces the activities of BIS with respect to standardization and certification of goods, articles, processes, systems and services. 

Functioning: 

To provide the advantages of standardization to common consumers, the Indian Standards Institution started operating the Certification Marks Scheme under the Indian Standards Institution (Certification Marks) Act, 1952.

• The Scheme was formally launched in 1955 and is popularly known as the ‘ISI Marking Scheme’. 
• The BIS issues the ISI mark to any product as a third-party guarantee after ensuring its quality, reliability and safety.

BIS is headquartered in New Delhi 

Key Activities of BIS

• Standards Formulation
• Product Certification Scheme
• Compulsory Registration Scheme
• Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme
• Hall Marking Scheme
• Laboratory Recognition Scheme
• Sale of Indian Standards