India BIS 62368 Migration Roadmap for Electronics
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) continues its transition towards the India BIS 62368 update and has now formalized the procedural roadmap for migrating the safety framework of over 38 major electronic and ICT product categories. This shift replaces traditional prescriptive safety standards with Hazard-Based Safety Engineering (HBSE) principles.
As a result, manufacturers must re-evaluate product safety across nearly 50% of all BIS-registered hardware currently in the Indian market.
Migration Deadlines for Legacy Standards
The following dates represent the “Date of Withdrawal” for legacy standards. Products that are not migrated by these deadlines cannot be legally imported or sold in India:
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General ICT & AV Products: 01 November 2028
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Extended Reality (XR) Products: 01 May 2026
Replacement of Legacy Standards Under India BIS 62368
The new standard IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 replaces two distinct legacy frameworks. Specifically:
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IS 13252 (Part 1):2010 – Information Technology Equipment
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IS 616:2017 – Audio, Video, and Similar Electronic Apparatus
Impacted Industry Verticals
The India BIS 62368 migration affects a wide range of industry verticals, including:
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Computing: Laptops, tablets, servers, POS terminals, cash registers
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Peripherals: Printers, scanners, keyboards, external storage (HDD/SSD)
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Consumer Tech: Mobile phones, smart watches, digital cameras, set-top boxes
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Audio/Visual: Televisions, amplifiers, Bluetooth speakers, smart speakers
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Infrastructure: SMPS, power adaptors, CCTV cameras, power banks
Migration Procedures
Manufacturers must follow specific procedures depending on their certification status.
A. For Existing Licensees (Standard Revision)
Manufacturers holding valid BIS R-Numbers must perform a Standard Revision instead of applying for a new registration.
Key requirements include:
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Lead Model Testing: Submit complete test reports from a BIS-recognized laboratory for all “Lead Models” as defined by series grouping guidelines
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Series Model Undertaking: Provide an undertaking confirming that the new safety requirements have been implemented across the series
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Co-dependency Management: Submit updated reports if hardware changes affect other mandatory Indian standards (e.g., language support for mobiles or digital receiver standards for TVs)
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License Continuity: Complete migration before the deadline; otherwise, BIS will render the license inoperative and remove models from the registry
B. For New Applicants
Currently, BIS allows applications under legacy standards (IS 13252 or IS 616) until the applicable deadlines, provided applicants submit a declaration of future migration.
However, industry guidance strongly recommends filing directly under IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 to avoid the cost and logistical burden of mid-cycle migration.
C. Labeling Requirements
The labeling framework remains partially unchanged, but updates are required:
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The R-mark remains the same
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The standard reference must be updated to IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 once BIS issues the Standard Revision letter
Strategic Industry Concerns
Several challenges are emerging alongside the India BIS 62368 transition.
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Lab Capacity Bottleneck: BIS-recognized labs are expected to reach maximum capacity 12–18 months before the 2028 deadline due to simultaneous migration across nearly 40 product categories
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Component Compliance: Clause 4 significantly changes how legacy components (certified under 60950 or 60065) are accepted, requiring verification of sub-assembly supply chains
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MeitY Series Guidelines: The industry is still awaiting finalized Revised Series Grouping Guidelines, which will determine testing ratios and cost impact
Recommended Industry Action Plan
To align with the India BIS 62368 migration, manufacturers should take a structured approach.
Key actions include:
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Portfolio Audit: Segment products into “End-of-Life” (before 2028) and “Active” (post-2028)
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Gap Analysis: Assess whether current designs meet Hazard-Based requirements of the 2023 edition
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Lab Slotting: Initiate testing for “Lead Models” during 2026–2027 to avoid bottlenecks
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New Product Shift: Halt new R&D development based on legacy standards for the Indian market
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Impact Assessment
Technical Standards? ✅ Yes
Type Approval & Market Access? ✅ Yes
Imports, Customs, Trade, or Market Surveillance? ❌ No
Spectrum Management? ❌ No