Regulatory guide · India
India Electronics Certification Guide: BIS CRS, WPC ETA, TEC MTCTE, CDSCO and Make in India (2026)
Most electronic products sold in India need one or more of four approvals: BIS registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for listed electronics and batteries, WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) for anything with a radio, TEC MTCTE certification for notified telecom and network equipment, and a CDSCO licence for medical devices; EV traction batteries also follow AIS-156 or AIS-038 through vehicle type approval. A typical Bluetooth consumer gadget needs BIS CRS plus WPC ETA, which together usually take about 4–10 weeks once test samples are ready.
Key facts
| Approval | Authority | Applies to | Route | Planning time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIS CRS | MeitY order, run by BIS | Notified electronics (IT, audio/video, adapters, wearables, Li-ion cells and packs…) | Test at BIS-recognised Indian lab → register on CRS portal | 3–8 weeks |
| WPC ETA | DoT, Wireless Planning & Coordination wing | Radio equipment | Self-declaration with RF test report for de-licensed bands | 1–4 weeks after the RF report |
| TEC MTCTE | DoT, Telecommunication Engineering Centre | Notified telecom/network equipment | Test at designated lab against Essential Requirements → MTCTE portal | 1–3 months |
| CDSCO licence | CDSCO (Central) and State Licensing Authorities | Medical devices (Class A–D) | Manufacturing or import licence under Medical Devices Rules, 2017 | Several months |
| AIS-156 / AIS-038 Rev 2 | MoRTH, tested by authorised agencies | EV traction batteries (L; M & N categories) | Part of vehicle type approval | With vehicle homologation |
| DGCA type certificate | DGCA, via QCI certification scheme | Drones above nano class | Certification body assessment and flight tests | See our drone guide |
Status and dates on this page were checked against the official sources listed at the end in September 2026. Planning times are Rapid Circuitry estimates for a prepared applicant; lab queues, sample defects and document gaps extend them. Regulations change — confirm the current requirement with the authority or a recognised lab before you commit to a launch date.
Which approvals does my product need?
| Product | Usually needs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth earbuds, speaker or smartwatch | BIS CRS + WPC ETA | Wireless headphones/earphones and smart watches are CRS-listed; the Li-ion cell must itself be BIS-registered |
| Wi-Fi smart plug or home IoT device | WPC ETA; BIS CRS or another BIS scheme if the product category is notified | Check the CRS list and any Quality Control Order for the product category |
| Power adapter or power bank | BIS CRS | Cells and batteries used inside also need registration |
| Router, gateway, network appliance, phone | TEC MTCTE (if notified) + WPC ETA | MTCTE scope is set by phase notifications |
| Medical wearable (ECG, SpO₂, EEG) | CDSCO licence + WPC ETA | BIS for the charger/adapter; clinical evaluation per risk class |
| Electric two-wheeler battery pack | AIS-156 testing via vehicle type approval | Cells tested to IS 16893; charger per applicable standards |
| Industrial controller without a radio | Often none of the above | Unless the category is notified; customers may still ask for EMC and safety test reports |
BIS CRS registration (Compulsory Registration Scheme)
The Compulsory Registration Scheme was created by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) through the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order and is operated by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Products on the notified list cannot be sold, imported or distributed in India without registration. The list includes IT equipment, audio/video products, power adapters, LED products, smart watches, wireless headphones and earphones, and secondary cells and batteries (lithium cells and packs are tested to IS 16046).
The big 2025–26 change: IS/IEC 62368-1:2023
Safety testing for most IT and audio/video products has historically been to IS 13252 (Part 1):2010 (based on IEC 60950-1) and IS 616:2017 (based on IEC 60065). MeitY notification S.O. 4997(E) of 29 October 2025 moves these categories to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023, the hazard-based standard used worldwide. BIS guidelines dated 9 March 2026 allow concurrent running of the old and new standards until 1 November 2028, after which no licence is granted to the old standards (BIS guidelines). For a new design in 2026, design and test to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 now rather than migrating later.
Process
- Confirm the product category and the applicable Indian Standard on the CRS list.
- If you are a foreign manufacturer, appoint an Authorised Indian Representative.
- Send samples to a BIS-recognised laboratory in India; test reports from overseas labs do not replace this.
- Apply on the BIS CRS portal with the test report, factory and brand details and the applicable fee.
- After grant, mark the product and packaging with the Standard Mark and registration number as specified.
Registration is tied to the manufacturer, the factory and the brand. Adding a factory, changing your EMS partner or adding models usually needs an amendment or a new registration, so plan certification together with your manufacturing decisions. Families of similar models can often be covered using BIS series guidelines, which reduces the number of samples to test.
WPC Equipment Type Approval (ETA) for wireless products
Any product that transmits radio — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, sub-GHz LPWAN, UWB, cellular — needs Equipment Type Approval from the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecommunications. For products that operate only in India’s de-licensed bands, ETA is obtained through self-declaration on the DoT Saral Sanchar portal, supported by an RF test report; the published fee is ₹10,000. The self-declaration route is not available for radars, jamming devices, drones and satellite equipment (DoT eServices).
- Get the RF test report from a suitably accredited laboratory for the bands your product uses.
- Keep the product name and model numbers identical across the RF report, BIS registration and packaging — mismatches are a common reason for queries.
- If you use a pre-approved radio module, ask the module maker for its Indian approvals and test data; the end product is still what you declare.
- Cellular products may also fall under TEC MTCTE if the product category is notified.
TEC MTCTE for telecom and network equipment
Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) requires notified telecom equipment to be tested at a designated conformity-assessment laboratory against Essential Requirements published by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and, for security requirements, the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS). Certificates are issued through the MTCTE portal. Scope has been added in phases: phase VI, notified on 25 February 2025 and enforced from 24 August 2025, covers categories including cellular and fixed wireless phones, SAN and fabric-interconnect switches, network security appliances and non-geostationary satellite user terminals (TÜV SÜD summary; TEC).
If you build a gateway, router or anything that connects to a telecom network, check the current list of notified products and their Essential Requirements early: security testing can drive firmware changes (secure boot, password policies, update integrity) that are cheaper to design in than to retrofit.
CDSCO licensing for medical devices
Medical devices in India are regulated by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. Devices are classified by risk into Class A (low), B (low-moderate), C (moderate-high) and D (high). Licensing was extended to all medical devices in stages, with Class A and B devices under licensing from 1 October 2022 and Class C and D from 1 October 2023.
| Activity | Authority | Form (application → licence) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacture, Class A/B | State Licensing Authority | MD-3 → MD-5 |
| Manufacture, Class C/D | Central Licensing Authority (CDSCO) | MD-7 → MD-9 |
| Import (all classes) | Central Licensing Authority | MD-14 → MD-15 |
| Units for test, evaluation or clinical investigation | Central Licensing Authority | Test licence (e.g. MD-13 for manufacture) |
Applications go through CDSCO’s online medical-device portal and the National Single Window System. Expect the quality management system to be assessed (the rules’ QMS requirements closely follow ISO 13485) and product evidence such as electrical safety and EMC reports to IEC 60601-1 and IEC 60601-1-2. Our biosignal front-end design guide covers what this means for ECG, EEG and EMG wearables, and the IEC 60601 and ISO 13485 explainers cover the standards.
EV batteries: AIS-156 and AIS-038 Rev 2
After a series of electric two-wheeler battery fires, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended AIS-156 (L-category vehicles) and AIS-038 Rev 2 (M and N categories) with additional safety requirements, implemented in two phases from 1 December 2022 and 31 March 2023 (PIB, 27 September 2022). For a battery pack and BMS designer, the practical requirements include:
- Cell testing to IS 16893 parts 2 and 3 at an accredited laboratory, and cell traceability.
- BMS protections against over-charge, over-discharge, over-current, over-voltage, short circuit and over-temperature, with multiple temperature sensors.
- A pack-level safety fuse, thermal-propagation testing and a warning to the rider in a thermal event.
- Pack ingress protection, data logging by the BMS, and a communication link between BMS and charger.
Our power electronics development guide covers BMS design and the international battery standards (IEC 62619, UL 2580) alongside AIS-156.
Make in India: PLI, ECMS and public procurement
The policy context matters if you are replacing an imported product with a locally designed one:
- PLI for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (mobile phones and specified components) and PLI 2.0 for IT Hardware (laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, servers; ₹17,000 crore outlay, approved May 2023) pay incentives on incremental manufacturing sales by approved companies. They are aimed at large-scale manufacturers, not at design projects.
- Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), notified on 8 April 2025, supports manufacturing of components and sub-assemblies. The Union Budget 2026–27 raised its outlay to ₹40,000 crore, and 46 applications had been approved by February 2026 (PIB, 3 February 2026). For product companies, the benefit is a deeper domestic supply of components and sub-assemblies.
- Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order: in government purchases, Class-I local suppliers (at least 50% local content) get purchase preference, Class-II suppliers need more than 20%, and nodal ministries may set higher thresholds for specific products (DPIIT).
For an SME moving from importing a finished product to a local design, the practical requirements are: own the full design files and firmware source (so you can move manufacturing and prove where value is added), design around parts that local EMS partners can source, and plan BIS and WPC approvals for your own brand and factory rather than relying on the importer’s old registrations.
Timeline and budget for a typical Bluetooth product
| Step | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Design to IS/IEC 62368-1 and RF requirements | During EVT/DVT | Creepage, adapter choice, battery protection, antenna |
| Pre-compliance checks | 1–2 weeks | Find EMC or RF margin problems before paid testing |
| BIS lab testing (India) | 2–4 weeks | Depends on lab queue and sample readiness |
| BIS CRS grant | 2–4 weeks | Faster with a complete, consistent application |
| RF test report + WPC ETA self-declaration | 1–4 weeks | Can run in parallel with BIS |
| Total, once samples are ready | About 4–10 weeks | Plan packaging artwork after registration numbers are known |
Design decisions that make Indian certification easier
- Use BIS-registered lithium cells and, where possible, BIS-registered external adapters.
- Design to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 from the start; it aligns with the IEC 62368-1 test data you will need for other markets.
- Choose radio modules with published Indian approvals and keep antenna designs within the module maker’s approved configurations.
- Keep model numbering and labelling consistent across all documents and markets.
- Budget samples: labs need several units, and some tests are destructive.
- Plan the manufacturing site early — BIS registration follows the factory.
How Rapid Circuitry helps
We design products to the Indian and international standards they will be tested against, run pre-compliance checks, and prepare the technical files and samples for testing at recognised laboratories. Rapid Circuitry does not itself issue or hold certifications; testing and grants are done by the labs and authorities above. Our compliance testing service, electronics design and manufacturing support cover the path from a design that can pass to a product a local EMS can build. We are based in Hyderabad and work with clients across India.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get BIS certification for an electronic product in India?
If your product is on the list notified under MeitY’s Compulsory Registration Order, you register it with BIS under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS): send samples to a BIS-recognised laboratory in India for testing to the applicable Indian Standard (for example IS 13252 (Part 1), IS 616 or, since the October 2025 amendment, IS/IEC 62368-1:2023), then apply on the BIS CRS portal with the test report and factory details. Foreign manufacturers must appoint an Authorised Indian Representative. Once registered, the product carries the BIS Standard Mark with its registration number.
How do I get WPC ETA approval for a Bluetooth device and how long does it take?
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other products that operate only in India’s de-licensed bands can obtain Equipment Type Approval through self-declaration on the Department of Telecommunications’ Saral Sanchar portal, uploading an RF test report; the published fee is ₹10,000. Radars, jammers, drones and satellite equipment are excluded from the self-declaration route. Once the RF test report is ready, the approval itself typically takes days to a few weeks; the RF testing is usually the longer part.
Do I need BIS registration if I import the product rather than manufacture it in India?
Yes. BIS CRS registration applies to products sold in India regardless of where they are made. The registration is held by the manufacturer for a specific factory and brand, and a foreign manufacturer must appoint an Authorised Indian Representative. Customs can hold consignments of notified products without a valid registration.
Does using a pre-certified wireless module avoid WPC or BIS approval for my product?
Not entirely. A module with its own approval makes RF testing of the end product simpler, but WPC ETA and BIS CRS apply to the product placed on the market, so plan for the end product’s own approvals where it falls within their scope. Check the module maker’s documentation and confirm the route with a recognised lab before committing.
Which Indian licence does a wearable ECG or other medical device need?
Medical devices fall under CDSCO and the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. Devices are classified A to D by risk; manufacturing licences for Class A and B are issued by the State Licensing Authority and for Class C and D by the Central Licensing Authority (CDSCO), while all imports are licensed centrally. Applications are made online through CDSCO’s medical device portal. Test-licence routes exist for building units for evaluation or clinical investigation.
Can a small company benefit from PLI or other Make in India schemes when it designs a product locally?
The PLI schemes for mobile phones and IT hardware reward incremental manufacturing output by eligible, typically large, manufacturers, and the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme supports component makers. A design-led SME usually benefits indirectly, through a growing domestic component and EMS base, and directly through public-procurement preference: under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, suppliers with at least 50% local content qualify as Class-I local suppliers. Owning your design files makes it easier to localise manufacturing and document local content.
What does AIS-156 require from a BMS for an electric two-wheeler?
AIS-156 (for L-category vehicles) and AIS-038 Rev 2 (for M and N categories) were amended with additional battery-safety requirements implemented from 1 December 2022 and 31 March 2023. For the battery and BMS these include cell testing to IS 16893 parts 2 and 3, protections against over-charge, over-discharge, over-current, over-temperature and short circuit, multiple temperature sensors, a pack-level fuse, thermal-propagation testing, ingress protection, traceability and data logging, and a communication link to the charger. Testing is done by an authorised testing agency as part of vehicle type approval.
Sources
- BIS — Guidelines for migration to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 (CRS) — dated 9 March 2026; cites MeitY S.O. 4997(E) of 29 October 2025
- BIS — Compulsory Registration Scheme portal — product list, registration process (checked September 2026)
- DoT — Equipment Type Approval (ETA) — self-declaration route, exclusions and ₹10,000 fee (checked September 2026)
- TEC — Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) — procedures and essential requirements (checked September 2026)
- TÜV SÜD — India: products under phase VI of MTCTE published — phase VI notified 25 February 2025, enforced from 24 August 2025
- CDSCO — Medical devices and diagnostics — Medical Devices Rules, 2017 and licensing (checked September 2026)
- CDSCO — Medical devices FAQ — classes, licensing authorities and forms
- PIB — Amendments to EV battery testing standards AIS-156 and AIS-038 (Rev 2) — 27 September 2022; phases from 1 December 2022 and 31 March 2023
- PIB — Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme — 3 February 2026; notified 8 April 2025, outlay raised to ₹40,000 crore
- PIB — PLI 2.0 for IT Hardware — 29 May 2023; ₹17,000 crore outlay
- MeitY — PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing — checked September 2026
- DPIIT — Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, revised — Class-I (≥50%) and Class-II (>20%) local content
This guide is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Timelines and budgets are Rapid Circuitry planning estimates.