Most electronics sold online in India need a BIS registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) before they are made, imported or sold. Chargers, power banks, lithium batteries, wireless earphones, smart watches, Bluetooth speakers, laptops, TVs and LED lights are all on the list. The registered product carries the BIS Standard Mark with an R-number. Many also need WPC approval for the radio and EPR registration for e-waste and batteries.
Which electronics need a BIS R-number
The CRS products are listed in the schedule of the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). These are the ones sold most online:
| Product | BIS route | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phones | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Chargers (power adaptors for IT equipment) | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Power banks | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Lithium-ion and portable batteries | CRS | IS 16046 |
| Wireless headphones and earphones | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Smart watches | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Bluetooth speakers and smart speakers | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Laptops, notebooks and tablets | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| TVs and monitors | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Keyboards | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| CCTV cameras and recorders | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| Digital cameras | CRS | IS/IEC 62368-1 |
| LED bulbs, LED luminaires, lighting chains | CRS | IS 16102, IS 10322 |
| UPS and inverters up to 10 kVA | CRS | IS 16242 (Part 1) |
| Glass screen protectors for smartphones | CRS from 1 April 2027 | IS 19348:2025 |
The schedule’s safety standard for most IT and audio-video products is now IS/IEC 62368-1:2023. S.O. 4997(E) of 29 October 2025 made the change, and the older standards can be used alongside it until 1 November 2028. BIS explains this in its migration guideline.
Not everything is covered. Phone cases, USB cables, wired earphones, memory cards and mice are on no list. See is BIS required for mobile accessories. Small kitchen and personal care appliances fall under a different, ISI-mark order since 1 October 2026: see selling home appliances online.
Who holds the registration
CRS registration is granted to the manufacturer, for a specific factory, with the brand and models recorded against it. This decides what a marketplace seller can and cannot do:
- Your own factory: register it, using a test report from a BIS-recognised laboratory in India. See our CRS registration process guide.
- An overseas factory: the factory registers, with an Authorised Indian Representative in India. The importer can act as AIR.
- Your brand, made by a contract manufacturer: the contract manufacturer’s registration must include your brand and models, which needs your trademark or brand authorisation. See private label compliance.
- Reselling someone else’s product: you need no registration of your own, but you must check the R-number before buying, because selling unregistered goods is itself a contravention.
The other approvals electronics usually need
| Approval | Who needs it | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| WPC Equipment Type Approval | Importer or manufacturer | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio products in licence-exempt bands |
| E-waste EPR | The producer: brand owner or seller of imported equipment | 106 EEE items in Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 |
| Battery EPR | The producer of batteries or of equipment with batteries | Batteries under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 |
| Legal Metrology (LMPC) | Importer or packer of pre-packed goods | Package declarations and importer registration |
| BEE star label | Manufacturer or importer | TVs and other appliances on BEE’s mandatory list |
WPC and CRS answer different questions. ETA confirms the radio works within the licence-exempt rules. CRS confirms electrical safety. A pair of Bluetooth earbuds usually needs both. See BIS vs WPC.
Earbuds, smart watches and products with batteries
MeitY’s FAQ on the Compulsory Registration Order sets out how products with batteries are registered:
- True wireless earbuds are registered as wireless headphones and earphones.
- The charging case is registered as a power bank.
- The cells and batteries inside are registered separately under IS 16046, before the end product, although testing can run in parallel.
A notified battery inside a product needs its own registration, even if the host product does not.
Checklist before you list electronics
- Classify each product against the CRS schedule, and against the appliance order if it is a kitchen or personal care appliance.
- Check the R-number on crsbis.in or BIS Care. The registration should be valid and list the brand and the exact model you are listing.
- Check the mark on the product. The Standard Mark with the R-number, and for CRS the BIS website reference, should be on the product or its packaging.
- Get the WPC ETA certificate for radio products.
- Confirm the EPR position for e-waste and batteries, and who is the producer.
- Check the package declarations under the Legal Metrology rules, and show them on the listing. See what an e-commerce listing must show.
- Keep model numbers consistent. The model on the listing, the box and the registration should match. A mismatch is the most common reason a listing is questioned.
Penalties
Selling CRS-notified goods without a valid registration, or using the Standard Mark without one, contravenes Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016. Under Section 29(3), that 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 Aaditech can help
Aaditech handles CRS registration from lab testing to grant, adds brands and models to existing registrations, and acts as Authorised Indian Representative for overseas manufacturers. We also file WPC ETA, e-waste and battery EPR, and LMPC registrations, so an electronics range can be listed with one team. Our team includes former BIS officers. See our BIS CRS registration service or our guide to selling regulated products online.