The 9th Governing Council Meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), chaired by Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, focused on strengthening quality control and standardization across various sectors. Key directives included expanding mandatory hallmarking of jewelry to more districts, increasing industry awareness of BIS initiatives, and promoting the adoption of Indian standards. The Minister highlighted BIS's role in increasing the number of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and emphasized the need for transparency in sample testing and certification processes. Increased engagement with the MSME sector to facilitate compliance with technical regulations was also prioritized. The council approved proposals worth Rs. 78 crore to enhance testing capacity in areas like aerospace, solar energy, organic food, and high-voltage equipment. BIS presented its Annual Programme on Standardization (APS) for 2025-26, Laboratory Activities, and Conformity Assessment. India will host the 89th edition of the IEC General Meeting in September 2025. The Governing Council endorsed BIS's strategic initiatives, including the APS 2025-26 and the Laboratory Modernization Plan.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food Public Distribution: A government ministry in India.
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister: The minister in charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Bureau of Indian Standards: An organization responsible for standardization, certification and testing in India.
Shri Pralhad Joshi: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New Renewable Energy; ex-officio President of the Governing Council of BIS.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi.
New Delhi: Location of the 9th meeting of Governing Council of Bureau of Indian Standards BIS.
Governing Council of Bureau of Indian Standards: The governing body of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
BIS: Abbreviation for Bureau of Indian Standards.
Indian standards: Standards formulated by BIS for various products and services.
QCOs: Quality Control Orders.
MSME sector: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector.
Manak Manthan: An initiative at the level of Branch offices of BIS.
Manak Samvaad: An initiative at the level of Branch offices of BIS.
Andhra Pradesh: State in India; represented by a Minister in the Governing Council meeting.
Uttarakhand: State in India; represented by a Minister in the Governing Council meeting.
Bihar: State in India; represented by a Minister in the Governing Council meeting.
Gujarat: State in India; represented by a Minister in the Governing Council meeting.
Assam: State in India; represented by a Minister in the Governing Council meeting.
Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI: Department under the Government of India.
Smt. Nidhi Khare: Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI.
IEC General Meeting: 89th edition of IEC General Meeting from 08-19 September 2025 in New Delhi.
Annual Programme for Standardisation APS 2025-26: Annual Programme for Standardisation APS, formulated through enhanced engagement with Central Ministries and industry associations, and focused on filling sectoral gaps and aligning standards with national priorities.
Laboratory Modernization Plan: BIS's plan for Infrastructure upgrades, automation, digitization, and creation of complete test facilities for critical products have been identified as key areas of focus for year 2025-26.
Nihi Sharma: Person associated with the release (likely the author or contact).
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister chairs 9th
Governing Council Meeting of Bureau of Indian
Standards
Under mandatory hallmarking, more districts to be
added: Shri Pralhad Joshi
Posted On: 29 MAY 2025 4:49PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri
th
Pralhad Joshi presided over the 9 meeting of Governing Council of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in
New Delhi. He is ex-officio President of the Governing Council of BIS.
During his presidential address, the Union Minister said BIS has brought 371 districts in the country under
mandatory hallmarking scheme of jewellery thereby, providing quality assurance to consumers. He directed
that more districts be also added in the coming year. He laid special emphasis on making industry and other
stakeholders more aware of BIS initiatives.
He also stressed upon the importance of Indian standards for various products and services and appreciated
the milestone achievements of BIS with formulation of 23798 Indian standards across sectors.
Shri Joshi mentioned the support provided by BIS to various Ministries/Departments in increasing the number
of QCOs from 14 in 2014 to 191 today, covering 774 products along with two horizontal QCOs, which would
contribute towards safety of consumers.
He highlighted the contribution of BIS in promoting a quality ecosystem. The Minister said that BIS is more
than a regulator and urged the Bureau to act as a facilitator by adopting industry friendly approach and
promoting the adoption of BIS mark on voluntary basis. Appreciating that the laboratories processed over 2.5
lakh samples in 2024-25, he also said that BIS should make concerted efforts to enhance transparency in
sample testing and issuing certifications.
He placed importance on the need for increased engagement with MSME sector to handhold these small units
and ensure their preparedness for compliance with technical regulations. Appreciating initiatives such as
Manak Manthan and Manak Samvaad at the level of Branch offices of BIS, he laid emphasis on closer
engagement with industry, accessibility and prompt redressal of any problems faced by the small industries. In
order to strengthen the regulatory system, he emphasized that BIS should have zero tolerance towards any
malpractices.
Approving proposals worth Rs. 78 crore to strengthen testing capacity in areas such as aerospace components,
solar PV modules, organic food, and high-voltage equipment, he expressed the need to boost the testing
infrastructure in the country to match the demands of an emerging economy. He pointed out that all these
holistic efforts will help in positioning India as a global leader in standardization.
Ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Gujarat and Assam, who are members of the Governing
Council, were also present during the meeting. Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI, Smt. Nidhi
Khare and senior officers from Department and BIS also attended the meeting. BIS gave a detailed
presentation on its key activities of Standardization, Certification and Lab Activities.
BIS presented before the Governing Council, the Annual Programme on Standardization (APS), LaboratoryActivities, and Conformity Assessment for the year 2025-26.
BIS informed that India is hosting the 89th edition of IEC General Meeting from 08 - 19 September 2025 in
New Delhi, where more than 1500 participants from over 150 countries are expected to participate and a
series of Management meetings, Technical Committee meetings, Workshops, Exhibition and other events will
be organized.
The Governing Council reviewed key developments and achievements and endorsed the way forward for
BIS’s strategic initiatives such as;
Annual Programme for Standardisation (APS) 2025-26: formulated through enhanced engagement with
(cid:108)
40 Central Ministries and 84 industry associations, and focused on filling sectoral gaps and aligning
standards with national priorities.
Laboratory Modernization Plan: Infrastructure upgrades, automation, digitization, and creation of
(cid:108)
complete test facilities for critical products have been identified as key areas of focus for year 2025-26.
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Nihi Sharma
(Release ID: 2132359)