**Executive Summary**
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published six new standards for priority assistive products as part of the National List of Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP) initiative. Released on May 1, 2026, these standards aim to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly while supporting the nationwide "Accessible India Campaign." The document establishes rigorous requirements for safety, ergonomics, and performance to align domestic manufacturing with international quality benchmarks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mobility Aid Standards**
* **IS 18558 (Part 1): 2025 / ISO 11334-1:** Specifies requirements for elbow crutches, including safety, ergonomics, performance, and mandatory manufacturer information such as marking and labeling.
* **IS 5145: 2026:** An indigenous standard for walking sticks made of wood, cane, aluminium, plastic, or rubber, covering material, shape, dimensions, and workmanship.
* **IS 18558 (Part 4): 2025 / ISO 11334-4:** Outlines requirements and test methods for walking sticks with three or more legs, focusing on stability and handle/tip specifications.
**Structural Accessibility Standards**
* **IS 19631: 2026:** An indigenous standard for portable ramps designed to help wheelchair users and individuals with strollers or carts access buildings and transportation systems safely.
* **Accessibility Scope:** These ramps are intended for use by older people, children, and those with mobility problems, with or without caregiver assistance.
**Accessible Design and Communication Standards**
* **IS 19189: 2025 / ISO 19028:** Provides guidelines for tactile guide maps, specifying how information should be designed and displayed to help blind or low-vision individuals navigate public places and parks.
* **IS 19190: 2025 / ISO 17049:** Defines fundamental requirements for applying Braille to signage and appliances, including dimensional parameters and material characteristics.
**Regulatory and Industrial Framework**
* **Development Body:** Standards were formulated by the BIS Technical Committee on Assistive Products (MHD 09), which includes experts from ICMR, AIIMS, and organizations like ALIMCO.
* **Global Harmonization:** The committee participates in international ISO committees to ensure Indian standards are compatible with global markets, facilitating export opportunities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the Elderly**
**Impact**
Enhanced safety, independence, and quality of life through standardized assistive devices and improved navigation in public spaces via tactile maps and Braille signage.
**Action Required**
Leverage standardized products and accessible infrastructure to improve freedom of movement in homes, workplaces, and local communities.
**Indian Domestic Manufacturers**
**Impact**
The standards provide a clear benchmark for innovation and safety, enabling manufacturers to produce high-quality goods that are eligible for international export.
**Action Required**
Align manufacturing processes, materials, and labeling with the new IS requirements to ensure compliance and leverage the expanding market for assistive technologies.
**Healthcare Providers and Policymakers**
**Impact**
Provides a standardized guideline for the provision of assistive products and supports the goals of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
**Action Required**
Utilize these standards to guide the procurement, development, and implementation of assistive technology initiatives across the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): The primary research body that brought about the NLEAP initiative to support the development and provision of assistive technologies.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD): The nodal department under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment responsible for the Accessible India Campaign and universal accessibility for PwDs.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The national standards body that published six new standards for medical assistive technologies to ensure safety, ergonomics, and performance of products like crutches and ramps.
National List of Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP): An initiative and guideline document developed by ICMR that identifies priority assistive products and serves as the framework for these new standards.
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyaan): A nationwide initiative aimed at achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, which these new BIS standards are designed to support.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Strengthening Accessibility: BIS publishes six
New Standards for Priority Assistive Products
Standards for (i) Elbow crutches, (ii) Walking sticks and (iii)
Walking sticks, three or more legs published
Standards prescribe requirements relating to safety,
ergonomics, performance, finish, workmanship and
information to be supplied by the manufacturer
Standards for Portable Ramps for wheelchair users, as well
as people pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects,
to more easily access steps, buildings, and other
transportation systems published
Standards for Accessible Design for (i) information Contents,
Figuration and Display Methods of Tactile Guide Maps, and
(ii) Application of Braille on Signage Equipment and
Appliances published
Posted On: 01 MAY 2026 3:39PM by PIB Delhi
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published a number of standards for medical assistive
technologies as a part of the NLEAP (National List of Essential Assistive Products) initiative brought
about by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The NLEAP document aims to serve as a
guideline for policymakers, healthcare providers, and the concerned stakeholders for provision of assistive
products as well as support the development of assistive technologies across the country.
The BIS Technical Committee on Assistive Products including Rehabilitation Appliances, Orthotic and
Prosthetic Items (MHD 09) formulates Indian Standards pertaining to assistive technologies. The scope of
committee is to formulate Indian Standards for Assistive Products including Rehabilitation Appliances,
Orthotic and Prosthetic Items involved in assistance or rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, elderly
persons and persons with impairments due to non-communicable diseases. This national committee
formulates standards through the consensus of various relevant stakeholders including technical experts
from the Indian industry, academia and government bodies such as ALIMCO Kanpur (Artificial Limbs
Manufacturing Corporation of India), ICMR and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for
Persons with Physical Disabilities under the chairmanship of Dr. Sanjay Wadhwa, Head (Physical
Medicine & Rehabilitation), AIIMS New Delhi. Social organizations like BMVSS Jaipur (Bhagwan
Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti) are also a part of the committee for representation of consumerinterests. The national committee also participates in the international technical committees of ISO:
‘Assistive Products’ (ISO/TC 173) and ‘Prosthetics and Orthotics’ (ISO/TC 168) for harmonization with
the global standards.
BIS has published the following standards in the past year for mobility aids, structural aids and accessible
designs which are listed as priority assistive products under the NLEAP:
1. IS 18558 (Part 1): 2025/ISO 11334-1 Elbow crutches
The Standard specifies requirements and test methods for elbow crutches fully equipped with
handgrip and tip including requirements relating to safety, ergonomics, performance, and
information to be supplied by the manufacturer, including marking and labelling.
2. IS 5145: 2026 Walking sticks
IS 5145 covers the requirements pertaining to material, shape, dimensions, workmanship, finish
and performance of walking sticks (including wooden, cane, aluminium, plastic and rubber). This
is an indigenous standard developed after consultation with the technical experts from the Indian
industry.3. IS 18558 (Part 4): 2025/ISO 11334-4 Walking sticks, three or more legs
IS 18558 (Part 4) specifies requirements and methods of walking sticks with three or more legs
and fully equipped with handle and tips. It also gives the requirements relating to safety,
ergonomics, performance, marking and labelling.
4. IS 19189: 2025/ISO 19028 Accessible Design — Information Contents, Figuration and Display
Methods of Tactile Guide Maps
The Standard explains what information tactile guide maps should include and how they should be
designed and displayed. These maps help people who are blind or have low vision understand
buildings (like public places, transport areas, and parks) and nearby routes, so they can move
around safely and easily.5. IS 19190: 2025/ISO 17049 Accessible Design —Application of Braille on Signage Equipment
and Appliances
The Standard specifies the fundamental requirements for braille used on signage, equipment and
appliances, including the dimensional parameters of braille and the characteristics of materials
used, and the guidelines for practical implementation.
6. IS 19631: 2026 Portable RampsThis Standard specifies the requirement for Portable ramps for wheelchair users, as well as people
pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects, to more easily access steps, buildings, and other
transportation systems. This standard is applicable to portable ramps used for people with a range
of mobility problems using powered or manual wheelchairs, mobility aids, older people, and
children on with or without assistance of a caregiver to improve freedom of movement around a
variety of environments, including the home, place of work, or local community. This is an
indigenous standard developed after consultation with the technical experts from the Indian
industry.
Through the development of standards on assistive technology, BIS aims to support the nationwide
initiative of Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyaan) brought about by the
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment which targets to achieve universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Due to ageing societies, the need for assistive products due to age related functional restrictions,
limitations or impairments has increased. There is a growing need for standards in the area of Assistive
Products that are crucial for enhancing the quality of life and promoting independence among individuals
with functional impairments. By developing standards aligning with the global practices and their
compliance would ensure that products of Indian Domestic Manufacturers meet International quality
benchmarks and eligible for export to international markets. Formulation of such standards would also
assist in research and development, encouraging the Indian manufacturers for innovation while ensuring
the minimum requirements for safety and performance of the products being used in the country. The
manufacturing base for assistive technologies in India is expanding day by day and standardization for the
industry plays an important role in leveraging the indigenously manufactured products.
***
RT/ IA/ ARC
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