Is Your Electric Drill Legal to Sell? The New IS 4665 Mandate Explained

The Indian manufacturing and hardware sector has just witnessed a landmark moment in regulatory compliance and consumer safety. On January 29, 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) officially announced the grant of the All India First Licence for “Hand-Held Motor-Operated Electric Tools Safety”. Specifically, this groundbreaking license falls under the highly anticipated IS 4665 (Part 2/Sec 1): 2023 / IEC 60745-2-1:2003 standard, which dictates the particular safety requirements for drills and impact drills.

This announcement is far more than just a routine regulatory update; it is a clear signal that the Indian government is doubling down on quality control within the power tools industry. For manufacturers, importers, and brands dealing in electric drills, the enforcement of these stringent safety standards is now a concrete reality.

Spotlight on the Pioneer: Who Received the First Licence?

Securing an “All India First Licence” is a prestigious achievement. It publicly demonstrates a manufacturer’s absolute commitment to top-tier quality, technical precision, and consumer safety. According to the official circular issued by the Central Marks Department-III, the inaugural license was granted to Hindmedico Product Pvt. Ltd..

Here is a closer look at the specific details of this historic regulatory grant:

• Licensee: Hindmedico Product Pvt. Ltd.
• Licence Number: 5100275793
• Product Category: Hand-Held Motor-Operated Electric Tools Safety Part 2 Particular requirements Section 1 drills and impact drills
• Governing Standard: IS 4665 (Part 2/Sec 1): 2023 / IEC 60745-2-1:2003
• Manufacturing Address: 55/8 Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Belurmath, Howrah- 711202, HOWRAH VIC.COT.MILL, 711202

By successfully navigating the rigorous testing and factory inspection protocols required by the BIS, Hindmedico Product Pvt. Ltd. has set the ultimate benchmark for all other domestic and international manufacturers operating in the lucrative Indian market.

Understanding the Standard: What is IS 4665: Part 2: Sec 1: 2023?

To fully grasp the magnitude of this industry news, we must look at the standard itself. IS 4665: Part 2: Sec 1: 2023 is the modern, comprehensively revised safety benchmark for handheld electric drills. By directly adopting the international framework of IEC 60745-2-1:2003, India has aligned its domestic safety expectations with global best practices.

Electric drills and impact drills are high-torque, motor-operated devices used daily on heavy construction sites, in professional workshops, and for DIY home projects. Because they combine high-speed mechanical rotation with significant electrical power, the potential for accidents—ranging from severe electrical shocks to mechanical component failures—is exceptionally high if the tool is poorly manufactured.

To combat these risks, the IS 4665 standard mandates exhaustive laboratory testing for:

• Electrical Insulation: Ensuring the end-user is completely protected from live electrical components, especially during prolonged, heavy-duty use.
• Mechanical Strength: Verifying that the tool’s outer casing can withstand accidental drops, vibrations, and high-impact usage without cracking or exposing internal wiring.
• Thermal Resistance: Preventing the internal motor from overheating, which could lead to internal melting or dangerous fire hazards.
• Safe Operation of Moving Parts: Ensuring chucks, gears, and switches are securely housed and operate flawlessly to prevent physical injury.

With the first license now officially active and circulating in the market, the grace period for non-compliant, uncertified products is rapidly shrinking.

Why This ‘First Licence’ is a Game-Changer for the Market

The issuance of this circular marks the definitive transition from a voluntary quality approach to strict, mandatory compliance for power tools. Here is why this regulatory shift is a massive game-changer:

1. Eliminating Substandard Imports For years, the Indian market has been flooded with cheap, unregulated power tools that look the part but pose significant hidden risks to users. With mandatory BIS certification under IS 4665, low-quality imports will be aggressively barred from entering the supply chain. Every tool sold must now meet the exact same rigorous safety criteria.
2. Building Ultimate Consumer Trust When a construction worker, contractor, or DIY enthusiast sees the ISI mark on an impact drill, they instantly know the product has been rigorously tested. This visible proof of quality builds unshakeable brand loyalty and consumer trust.
3. Elevating the “Make in India” Initiative By aligning Indian standards (IS 4665) with international benchmarks (IEC 60745-2-1), domestic manufacturers are inherently pushed to produce world-class tools. This not only secures the domestic market against inferior goods but also vastly enhances the export potential of Indian-made power tools to global markets.

Manufacturer’s Roadmap: Don’t Get Left Behind

If you are manufacturing or importing electric drills and impact drills, the time to act is right now. Operating without the mandatory BIS certification can lead to severe operational consequences, including sudden stock seizures at customs, heavy financial penalties, and a complete halt of your business operations in India.

The road to securing a BIS license involves several critical and complex steps:

• Product Testing: Your drill models must be rigorously tested at a BIS-recognized laboratory to ensure they meet every single parameter of IS 4665: Part 2: Sec 1: 2023.
• Factory Inspection: A BIS officer will physically inspect your manufacturing premises to verify that you have the necessary infrastructure, quality control processes, and in-house testing equipment to maintain consistent product quality day in and day out.
• Extensive Documentation: Submitting a flawless application with precise technical specifications, component lists, and comprehensive quality manuals.

This certification process can be bureaucratic, highly technical, and deeply time-consuming. A single error in your documentation or a minor failure during the testing phase can result in months of costly delays.

Streamline Your BIS Approval with Instacertify

Navigating the complex hurdles of BIS certification shouldn’t slow down your time-to-market. At Instacertify, we take the guesswork and frustration out of regulatory compliance.

Our specialized team of compliance experts handles end-to-end BIS registration for power tool manufacturers. From conducting pre-compliance testing and preparing your airtight technical documentation to liaising directly with BIS officials and guiding your team through the crucial factory inspection, Instacertify ensures a smooth, rapid, and hassle-free path to earning your ISI mark.

Don’t let regulatory bottlenecks keep your innovative products off the shelves. As the industry moves rapidly toward strict compliance, partnering with Instacertify guarantees that your brand remains competitive, fully compliant, and deeply trusted by consumers nationwide.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

The historic grant of the All India First Licence to Hindmedico Product Pvt. Ltd. is just the beginning of a new era in hardware safety. Secure your market leadership today by achieving full compliance with the latest standards.

Contact the experts at Instacertify today to kickstart your BIS certification journey and bring your power tools to the Indian market with confidence!