Indian Compliance
ISI Mark Full Form, Meaning & Mandatory ISI Products List (2026)
You have seen it on cement bags, electric irons, helmets and bottled water: a small rectangle with the letters ISI and a number underneath. Most people know it means "approved", but fewer know what the letters stand for or why some products must carry it.
ISI stands for Indian Standards Institution. It was India's national standards body, set up in 1947. In 1987 it became the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), but the certification mark kept the original name. Today the ISI mark shows that BIS has licensed a factory to mark a product because it conforms to the relevant Indian Standard.
What Does the ISI Mark Mean?
The ISI mark is BIS's product certification mark under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. A product carrying it should have:
- Been made in a factory that holds a valid BIS licence for that product
- Been tested against a specific Indian Standard, shown as an IS number near the mark
- Been made under the factory's own testing and quality control, which BIS checks through inspections and samples
Under the mark you will see a licence number in the format CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX. That number links the product to one factory and one licence.
A Short History: From ISI to BIS
- 1947: The Indian Standards Institution is set up to write national standards.
- 1955: The ISI certification marks scheme begins.
- 1986 to 1987: The BIS Act, 1986 replaces ISI with the Bureau of Indian Standards, a statutory body.
- 2016: The BIS Act, 2016 widens the powers of BIS and lets the government make certification mandatory through Quality Control Orders.
- 2018 onwards: The BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations set out the schemes, including Scheme-I for the ISI mark.
When Is the ISI Mark Mandatory?
The ISI mark is voluntary by default. It becomes mandatory when a ministry issues a Quality Control Order (QCO) for a product. After the QCO date, nobody may make, import, sell, store for sale or distribute that product without a valid BIS licence and the ISI mark.
QCOs are issued by many ministries, for example Heavy Industries for electrical goods, Commerce for steel and textiles and Chemicals for chemicals. Dates are often extended, so always check the current status for your product.
Mandatory ISI Products List: Main Groups in 2026
Several hundred products now need the ISI mark. The main groups are:
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cement and building materials | OPC, PPC, PSC and composite cement, many steel products, pipes |
| Steel and metals | TMT bars, structural steel, stainless steel sheets, aluminium products |
| Household electrical appliances | Irons, mixers, water heaters, room heaters, under the IS 302 series |
| Electrical accessories | Switches, plugs and sockets, PVC cables, MCBs, ceiling fans |
| Kitchen and home | pressure cookers, LPG stoves, gas cylinders and regulators |
| Safety products | two-wheeler helmets, fire extinguishers |
| Food | None at present: packaged drinking water, mineral water, milk powder and infant food stopped needing the ISI mark in October 2024 and are regulated by FSSAI |
| Toys | Electric and non-electric toys under IS 9873 and IS 15644 |
| Chemicals, textiles and others | Many industrial chemicals, technical textiles, footwear, furniture and more |
For the full, searchable list with IS numbers, dates and BIS fees, see our mandatory BIS standards library. Electronics are not on this list because they use the separate Compulsory Registration Scheme.
ISI Mark vs Other Indian Marks
- Standard Mark with R-number (CRS): for notified electronics, IT goods, LED products and batteries.
- Hallmark: for gold and silver jewellery, also run by BIS.
- BEE star label: shows energy efficiency for appliances such as ACs and refrigerators. It is not a safety mark.
- FSSAI logo and licence number: for food businesses and packaged food.
Not sure which mark your product needs? Our guide to which safety mark is mandatory in India answers this product by product.
How to Verify an ISI Mark
- Note the CM/L licence number printed with the mark and the IS number.
- Open the BIS Care app or the licence search on the BIS website.
- Enter the licence number and check the status is active.
- Check the licence covers the same product, brand and factory as the item in front of you.
An ISI mark without a licence number, or with a number that belongs to a different product, is a red flag. You can report misuse through the BIS Care app.
How Manufacturers Get the ISI Mark
- Check the standard: identify the IS number and whether a QCO applies.
- Set up testing: the factory needs the in-house tests listed in the BIS product manual for that standard.
- Apply online: file the application on the BIS Manak Online portal with documents and fees.
- Factory inspection: a BIS officer checks the factory, testing and quality control and draws samples.
- Sample testing: samples are tested in a BIS or BIS-recognised lab.
- Grant: once everything conforms and fees are paid, BIS grants the licence and the CM/L number.
Under the 2026 amendment to the regulations, licences can be granted for up to five years, with fees payable every year in advance. Foreign factories follow the same steps under FMCS, explained in our BIS FMCS guide.
How Instacertify Helps
We confirm whether a QCO covers your product, prepare the factory and documents for the BIS visit, coordinate sample testing and follow the application through to grant. See our ISI mark service for Indian manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of ISI?
ISI stands for Indian Standards Institution, the national standards body set up in 1947. It became the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in 1987, but the mark kept the name ISI.
What does the ISI mark mean on a product?
It means BIS has licensed the factory to mark that product, after checking that it conforms to the relevant Indian Standard. The licence number (CM/L) printed with the mark links the product to that licence.
Is the ISI mark mandatory?
Only for products notified in a Quality Control Order (QCO). For those, selling, importing or storing for sale without a valid ISI licence is an offence. For other products the ISI mark is voluntary.
How do I check if an ISI mark is genuine?
Use the BIS Care app or the BIS website. Enter the CM/L licence number printed under the mark and check that the licence is active and covers that product, brand and factory.
Is the ISI mark the same as the BIS CRS mark?
No. The ISI mark is issued under Scheme-I after a factory inspection. Electronics and IT goods use the Standard Mark with an R-number under the Compulsory Registration Scheme.
Can a foreign factory get the ISI mark?
Yes, through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). The factory appoints an Authorised Indian Representative and BIS officers inspect the overseas plant.