Executive Summary:
This document outlines the initiatives by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining BIS certification. These initiatives include financial incentives, simplified procedures, and awareness campaigns implemented over the last three years. The aim is to encourage MSMEs to adopt quality standards through direct engagement and support.
Key Points / Main Content:
Financial Incentives:
* Annual minimum marking fee concessions: 80% for Micro, 50% for Small, and 20% for Medium scale units.
* Additional 10% concession for units in northeast areas or women-led MSMEs.
Simplified Procedures:
* Levels of Control in Schemes of Inspection and Testing (SIT) are recommendatory, allowing manufacturers to define their own control measures.
* Maintaining an in-house laboratory is optional for MSME units.
* MSMEs can use outside BIS-recognized laboratories, NABL accredited labs, or shared resources like cluster-based labs.
* Product certification activities have been digitised via the online platform "Manak Online," covering application submission to certification award.
* Automatic renewal of certifications without human intervention upon online submission.
Engagement and Awareness:
* Targeted awareness and training programs for the industry at localised level.
* "Manak Samvaad" dialogue initiated with certified manufacturers to integrate them into the quality ecosystem.
* Engagement with stakeholders at the grass root level, including local manufacturers, to bridge the gap between standards development and practical implementation.
* "Manak Manthan" engages stakeholders during the formulation and revision of standards.
* Product-specific capsule courses (1-2 days) are conducted across the country, free of charge for MSMEs.
Impact Analysis:
MSMEs:
* Impact: Benefit from financial concessions, simplified certification processes, and enhanced access to training and awareness programs, encouraging the adoption of quality standards.
* Action Required: Utilize the online "Manak Online" platform for certification, explore available fee concessions, participate in training programs, and engage in dialogues like "Manak Samvaad."
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards):
* Impact: Expected to enhance the reach and adoption of quality standards among MSMEs through various support initiatives.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct awareness programs, maintain the "Manak Online" platform, and facilitate dialogues with manufacturers.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
LOK SABHA: The Lower House of the Parliament of India.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The National Standards Body of India responsible for standardization, marking, and quality certification of goods.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): Enterprises classified based on investment and turnover, playing a significant role in the Indian economy.
NABL: National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Manak online: An online platform by BIS for product certification activities.
Manak Samvaad: A dialogue initiative by BIS with certified manufacturers to integrate them into the quality ecosystem.
Manak Manthan: An engagement initiative by BIS at the stage of formulation of new standards and revision of existing standards.
ORIGINAL IN HINDI
Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2859
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
ASSISTANCE TO MSMES
2859. SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:
(OIH)
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched any special initiatives or schemes to
assist the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining BIS certification;
(b) if so, the details of such initiatives taken/schemes implemented including fee concessions,
simplified procedures and awareness campaigns during the last three years; and
(c) whether the BIS has made any direct communication or taken any engagement initiative to
encourage the MSMEs to adopt quality standards?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI B.L. VERMA)
(a) & (b) : To support MSMEs, financial incentives are provided by BIS in annual minimum marking
fee with concession of 80% (for Micro scale units), 50% (Small scale units) and 20% (Medium scale units).
An additional concession of 10% is also provided to units which are either located in north-east areas or
women entrepreneur led MSME units.
The ‘Levels of Control’ given in the Schemes of Inspection and Testing (SIT) are made
recommendatory in nature. The manufacturer has the choice to define their own control unit/batch/lot and
their own Levels of Control and inform the BIS. Also the requirement of maintaining in-house laboratory
has been made optional for MSME units. MSME units are allowed to utilize the services of outside BIS
recognized laboratories, NABL accredited labs or even sharing of resources like cluster based labs or
laboratories of other manufacturing units.
For Domestic Manufacturers, Operations of product certification activities and processes involved
across all the Branch Offices (BOs) in the country have been digitised. An Online platform “Manak
online” is available for product certification activities right from the stage of submission of application to
award of certification including all communications, payment, queries through the portal itself. The
renewal of certifications has been made automatic without any human intervention. The manufacturer can
simply submit the renewal application at his convenience and after the online submission, the renewal
endorsement gets generated, extending the validity of certification.(c) : Targeted awareness and training programs for the industry at localised level with sector
specific focus have been initiated by BIS focusing on Standards, measures to implement them and
obtaining BIS certification
Manak Samvaad dialogue with certified manufacturers has been initiated by BIS to impart orientation and
integrate them into the quality ecosystem.
BIS has strengthened its engagement with stakeholders at the grass root level including local
manufacturers, especially MSMEs to bridge the gap between standards development and their practical
implementation. Besides creating avenues for feedback at the draft stage of Standards development, BIS
through ‘Manak Manthan’ also engages at the stage of formulation of new standards and revision of
existing standards.
Further, product specific training courses known as capsule courses are conducted by BIS across
the country. These are short term courses of 1-2 days customized to cater to the specific product of interest
to the Industry, focusing on the requirements of the concerned Indian Standard. These courses are offered
free of charge to the MSMEs for further encouraging the adoption of quality standards.
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