IS/IEC 62368 Safety Rules in India: Steps to Ensure BIS Approval on Time

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IS 62368

IS/IEC 62368-1 (Edition 4: 2023) marks a major shift in India’s regulatory landscape for electronic and ICT products. Following the recent directives from MeitY and BIS, Migration to IS/IEC 62368- 2023 “Audio / Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment Part 1 Safety Requirements (Ed 4)” from IS 13252 Part 1: 2020 and IS 616: 2017 ,nearly 42 categories of audio/video and IT equipment are being transitioned from the older IS 13252 and IS 616 standards to this unified safety standard in the meeting held on 11 July 2025.

This migration has direct implications for manufacturers, importers, and compliance teams, with strict timelines already in force — including a three-year window for existing certifications and a six-month deadline for new product approvals. To avoid disruptions in market access, businesses must act quickly before the 31 July 2025 submission deadline to align their product testing, documentation, and certification strategies with the new safety requirements.

In the following sections, we’ll outline the critical steps you need to take to secure BIS approval on time, understand the transition roadmap, and ensure smooth compliance with IS/IEC 62368 in India.

India’s Transition to IS/IEC 62368-1: Understanding the Shift

India is officially moving from legacy standards IS 13252 (IT equipment) and IS 616 (audio/video equipment) to the modern IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 (Edition 4), a hazard-based safety framework that combines elements of the older IEC 60065 and IEC 60950-1. Unlike the earlier IS/IEC 62368-1:2018 (Edition 3), which was only voluntary, the new mandate makes compliance compulsory for a wide range of electronics and ICT products.

Why This Standard Matters?

The move reflects MeitY’s strategy to streamline product certification and promote consumer safety. By adopting the latest edition instead of older ones, India avoids repeated migrations and ensures that its regulatory system keeps pace with countries already operating under IEC 62368-1.

Globally, markets such as the EU, USA, China, South Korea, and Australia have already adopted Edition 2 or 3 of this standard. By directly selecting Edition 4, India places itself in line with the international adoption curve, reducing future compliance burdens for exporters and local manufacturers.

Scope of the Migration

The Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) 2021 lists 42 product categories (27 under IS 13252, 15 under IS 616) that must shift to IS/IEC 62368-1. These include:

Category	Products
Consumer devices	Televisions, monitors, and AR/VR systems
Peripherals	Keyboards (wired/wireless), printers, and video display units (VDUs)
Power systems	Adaptors, SMPS, and rechargeable batteries
ICT equipment	Routers, servers, and related hardware

This consolidation replaces 27 categories from IS 13252 and 15 from IS 616, simplifying the compliance framework.

Migration Timeline and Exceptions

General Categories: All 42 categories receive a three-year transition period from the official notification date.
AR/VR Devices: Classified as a new product type, these must comply within six months, though industry groups can seek an extension of up to one year with valid justification.
Category Consolidation: During stakeholder consultations, industry bodies requested simplification .For example, merging “keyboards” and “wireless keyboards” into a single category. BIS and MeitY confirmed that such consolidations will appear in the final published guidelines, helping reduce redundancy.

Detail Guide For BIS CRS Certification

Key Decisions Shaping India’s Shift to IS/IEC 62368

Series-Based Testing: Industry proposed testing a single representative model per product series instead of every variant; MeitY is reviewing this for inclusion in the final rules.
R-Number Retention: Manufacturers raised concerns about service, AMC, and EoL replacements; MeitY may allow case-by-case exemptions, but migration remains mandatory post-deadline.
Lab Capacity Expansion: BIS will fast-track accreditation of additional labs to handle higher testing demand during the transition period.
Simplified Marking: Proposal to display only the R-number on labels (excluding IS number) for better product design; BIS asked for formal submissions under Scheme-II.
Series Testing Committee: Industry recommended creating a dedicated committee to frame guidelines; MeitY and BIS welcomed written inputs and may hold further consultations.

What Changed in IS/IEC 62368-1?

Feature	Earlier Editions	What’s New in Edition 4 (2023)
Legacy Standard Acceptance	Devices could include components or subassemblies certified under IEC 60065 or IEC 60950-1.	That acceptance (Clause 4.1.1) has been removed. All components must meet the new Edition 4 requirements.
Liquid-Filled Components	Some exemptions existed (e.g. small amounts, or more than 1 L in certain cases) under older editions.	The exemption for > 1L has been dropped. New classification for liquid-filled components and stricter evaluation under G.15.
External Circuit / Transient Voltages	Earlier editions had less detailed or fewer requirements concerning cable types and transient voltages for external circuits.	Edition 4 adds more detailed rules on cable types, transient voltages, and clarifies conditions in external circuits.
Temperature / Contact Limits (Wearables etc.)	Earlier versions had touch-temperature limits, but fewer or less specific provisions for body-worn or skin-contact parts.	New or more explicit limits for touching parts, especially in wearables or devices that contact skin directly.

Migration Roadmap & Next Steps for IS/IEC 62368-1 Transition

Pre-Notification Stage

BIS to release the draft of IS/IEC 62368-1 (Edition 4) by early July 2025 for industry review.
MeitY has already held the first stakeholder consultation on 11 July.

Deadline for Feedback – 31 July 2025

Manufacturers and stakeholders should submit inputs on:

Transition plan for 42 CRO product categories and AR/VR timeline.
Proposed framework for series-based testing.
Suggestions for merging or redefining categories.
Labeling format and R-number usage.
Lab accreditation requirements.
Participation in drafting guidelines and committees.

Post-Deadline Notification

If no major objections are raised by 31 July, MeitY will issue an official notification.
The migration timelines of 3 years and 6 months will start from that date.

Implementation Guidelines Phase

MeitY and BIS will release detailed modalities, including series testing protocols.
Additional meetings may be scheduled if industry feedback requires clarification.

Action Plan for Manufacturers

Step	Key Actions
Internal Product Audit	Review 42 CRO-listed products, map old standards (IS 13252/IS 616) to IS/IEC 62368, and identify representative models for series testing.
Feedback Submission	Draft comments on category grouping, AR/VR timelines, labeling, and series testing; support with real-world cases; submit by 31 July 2025.
Testing & Lab Preparation	Engage accredited labs, book testing slots early, and apply for lab accreditation if needed.
Industry Collaboration	Work with peers on category consolidation; participate in BIS/MeitY committees and guideline drafting.

WHY USE ABSOLUTE VERITAS (AV) FOR BIS CRS CERTIFICATION?

Securing BIS CRS registration for Electronics and IT products under the Compulsory Registration Scheme is mandatory before their market launch. Manufacturers must obtain BIS registration for their electronic products to use the BIS Standard Mark with R-number.

If you require BIS CRS in India services, please contact Absolute Veritas. As a leading BIS Registration Consultant, Absolute Veritas assists manufacturers and importers in obtaining timely BIS registration for their products by offering valuable insights and assistance throughout the BIS Registration Process.

Absolute Veritas is a prominent organisation from the private sector of India primarily dealing with the Inspection, Testing, Audits, Certification of products& consulting services to various industries in India and worldwide, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and industry requirements. Offering a comprehensive range of services including product certification, testing, training, auditing, and compliance services, Absolute Veritas helps manufacturers and importers achieve higher production efficiency and quality standards.

Absolute Veritas (AV) will handle end to end pre-registration request, sample preparation, documentation, testing and application process for BIS Certification

For any questions regarding the most recent update on BIS registration licenses, please reach out to us via email at cs@absoluteveritas.com