ISI and CRS are the two main product certification schemes of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The ISI mark is granted under Scheme-I after BIS assesses the factory and the product is tested, and it carries a CM/L licence number. CRS, the Compulsory Registration Scheme, is Scheme-II: BIS registers the manufacturer on a self-declaration backed by a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory, with no factory visit before grant, and the product carries the Standard Mark with an R-number. You do not choose between them: the order that makes your product compulsory fixes the scheme.
Our ISI mark certification and BIS CRS registration services handle either route.
ISI vs CRS at a glance
| ISI mark (Scheme-I) | CRS (Scheme-II) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Product certification, Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 | Compulsory Registration Scheme, Scheme-II of the same Regulations |
| Basis of grant | BIS factory assessment and product testing | Self-declaration of conformity with a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory |
| Factory visit before grant | Yes | No |
| Number on the product | CM/L licence number and IS number | R-number (eight digits) and IS number |
| Typical products | Cement, steel, cables, appliances, helmets, toys, pressure cookers | Mobile phones, laptops, chargers, LED lamps, batteries, solar PV modules |
| Notified mainly by | Several ministries and departments through Quality Control Orders | MeitY for electronics and IT goods; also MNRE for solar products |
| Portal | Manak Online | crsbis.in |
| Expected time | Within 90 days (normal procedure) or 30 days (simplified procedure), per BIS guidelines of February 2026 | Usually shorter; no assessment at site before grant |
| Overseas factories | Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) | Apply directly with an Authorised Indian Representative |
| Main recurring fee | Annual minimum marking fee, set per Indian Standard | ₹25,000 processing fee and ₹1,000 licence fee each year, with MSME concessions |
| Validity | Up to five years, renewable for up to five years | Up to five years, renewable for up to five years |
| Ongoing control | Scheme of Inspection and Testing, BIS factory and market surveillance | Market and in-transit samples; MeitY surveillance with STPI |
How an ISI licence is granted
Under Scheme-I, BIS has to be satisfied that the factory can make the product consistently to the Indian Standard. There are two routes:
- Option 1, the normal procedure. BIS visits the factory, checks the production and testing set-up and draws samples for testing. The guidelines of 25 February 2026 expect grant within 90 days of the application if all is satisfactory first time.
- Option 2, the simplified procedure. The applicant applies with a conforming test report from a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory, no more than 90 days old. The licence can be granted after a satisfactory factory visit while a verification sample is tested, with grant expected within 30 days.
After grant, the licensee follows a Scheme of Inspection and Testing in its own factory lab, and BIS draws samples from the factory and the market. Full detail is in our ISI mark certification guide.
How a CRS registration is granted
Under Scheme-II, the manufacturer does the conformity work and BIS registers it:
- Generate a test request on crsbis.in and send samples to a laboratory recognised by BIS for the standard.
- Apply online with the test report within 90 days of its issue, with the undertaking and affidavit.
- Foreign manufacturers nominate an Authorised Indian Representative, who also files an affidavit.
- Send hard copies to BIS within 15 days of the online submission.
There is no factory visit before grant. Our CRS registration process post covers each step and the common reasons for queries.
Products: which scheme applies
Each compulsory product is listed under one scheme. A few examples from our BIS product list:
| Product | Scheme | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Portland cement | ISI | IS 269 |
| TMT steel bars | ISI | IS 1786 |
| Two-wheeler helmets | ISI | IS 4151 |
| Ceiling fans | ISI | IS 374 |
| Storage water heaters | ISI | IS 2082 |
| Mobile phones | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 and IS 16333 (Part 3) |
| Laptops and tablets | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Lithium-ion and portable batteries | CRS | IS 16046 |
| LED bulbs | CRS | IS 16102 (Part 1) |
| Microwave ovens | CRS | IS 302-2-25 |
The split is not simply “electrical goes to ISI”. Microwave ovens and induction stoves are under CRS, while fans, washing machines and water heaters are under ISI. Always check the exact product entry.
Fees compared
The fee structures are different, and since February 2026 both are paid every year in advance.
- CRS. A ₹1,000 application fee, a ₹1,000 annual licence fee and a ₹25,000 processing fee per application per year, with ₹20,000 for each additional test report and ₹30,000 for each later model inclusion. Micro enterprises and start-ups get 80% off the processing fee until 31 May 2029.
- ISI. Small fixed fees (₹1,000 application fee, ₹1,000 annual licence fee, ₹7,000 per man-day for visits), with the main cost being the annual minimum marking fee, which BIS sets for each Indian Standard and reduces for smaller enterprises.
Testing charges are set by the laboratory under both schemes. See BIS certification cost for worked examples.
Foreign manufacturers
This is where the schemes differ most for importers’ suppliers:
- ISI through FMCS. Only the normal procedure is available, so a BIS officer visits the overseas factory, with the applicant paying travel and related costs. The licensee appoints an Authorised Indian Representative and gives a performance bank guarantee of USD 10,000. See our FMCS guide.
- CRS. No visit before grant. The overseas manufacturer applies on crsbis.in, tests at a BIS-recognised laboratory and nominates an Authorised Indian Representative. In both schemes, the importer cannot hold the licence in its own name.
Same law, same penalties
Both marks are the BIS Standard Mark under the BIS Act, 2016, so the same rules apply. Under Section 29(3), contravening Section 17, which covers selling notified goods without a valid licence or using the mark without one, can lead to imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh (₹5 lakh for later offences) that may extend to ten times the value of the goods, or both.
How to check each
Use the official BIS Care app: Verify Licence Details for a CM/L number and Verify R-No under CRS for an R-number. See CM/L number check and BIS registration number check. For the background on each mark, see ISI mark full form and CRS full form.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech is a private compliance consultancy, independent of BIS. We confirm the scheme and standard for your product, plan testing at a BIS-recognised laboratory, prepare the Manak Online or crsbis.in application, set up the Authorised Indian Representative for overseas factories and get factories ready for BIS visits. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our ISI mark certification, BIS CRS registration and FMCS certification services.