Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS)

The Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) is a mandatory BIS registration system for notified electronic and IT products in India. Under this scheme, the manufacturer must get the product tested in a BIS recognized laboratory, submit the registration application, and obtain BIS approval before the product is manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in the Indian market.

Most businesses first hear about CRS when something goes wrong - a shipment held at customs, a marketplace listing rejected, or a buyer asking for mandatory BIS approval. In practice, if a product falls under the CRS product list, the manufacturer cannot legally enter the Indian market without BIS registration and proper product marking. This makes CRS one of the most important compliance routes for electronics and IT businesses entering or expanding in India.

CRS is also commonly referred to as BIS registration, CRS registration, CRS license, CRS (BIS) certificate, or simply the BIS CRS certificate - all describe the same approval.

BIS CRS Certification is a mandatory BIS registration framework for many electronic and IT products sold in India. CRS stands for Compulsory Registration Scheme, introduced in 2012 by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (now MeitY) together with BIS.

In simple words, if your electronic product falls under the notified product list, you cannot legally place that product in the Indian market unless the manufacturer completes BIS registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme.

The system was created to make sure that products like electronic devices, power equipment, lighting products and IT goods entering the Indian market meet the applicable Indian safety and quality requirements. For manufacturers, CRS registration is not just a document - it is the formal compliance route that opens lawful market access in India, after which the product can carry the BIS Standard Mark and its unique R-Number.

The Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) is a product registration mechanism operated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for electronic and IT products covered under notified orders of the Central Government. It runs under Scheme II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations 2018 and is based on the manufacturer's self-declaration of conformity supported by product testing. Under this scheme:

• The product must conform to the applicable Indian Standard
• Testing must be done in a BIS recognized laboratory
• The manufacturer submits the registration application
• BIS scrutinizes the documents and technical report
• Registration is granted, and a unique R-Number is issued, when the submission is found satisfactory

Because it relies on lab testing and self-declaration rather than a physical factory inspection, CRS is generally faster than ISI Mark or FMCS certification.

Many businesses confuse the three main BIS routes. Here is how CRS differs at a glance:

Not sure which one applies? Tell us your product and we'll confirm the right scheme and Indian Standard.

1. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
BIS is the national standards body of India and the registration authority for CRS. BIS manages the application system, recognized laboratory ecosystem, scrutiny process, and registration grant.

2. Central Government
Products become compulsory only when the Central Government notifies them under the applicable legal framework. BIS then implements the registration system for those notified products.

3. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
For electronic and IT goods, MeitY plays an important role, as the electronics compulsory registration orders are notified through this ministry.

4. BIS Recognized Laboratories
These laboratories test the product against the relevant Indian Standard. Their test reports are a central part of the registration process.

MeitY and the Central Government notify the coverage, BIS manages the registration system, and BIS recognized laboratories provide the compliance test evidence.

India's electronics market expanded rapidly over the years. With that growth came a major risk - low-quality, unsafe and substandard electronic products entering the market. The CRS scheme was introduced in 2012 to reduce that risk and protect consumers. The scheme helps ensure that products sold in India:

• Meet Indian safety standards
• Reduce the risk of unsafe electrical products
• Improve consumer protection
• Prevent unfair trade through poor-quality goods
• Improve product reliability and market confidence

For businesses, the scheme also improves trust, compliance credibility and market acceptance.

CRS registration is required for the manufacturer of the product. This includes:

• Indian manufacturers producing electronic or IT goods in India
• Foreign manufacturers exporting products into India
• Global electronics brands entering the Indian market through manufacturing entities

The registration is generally granted to the manufacturer, not to the importer, trader, or distributor. If the manufacturer is located outside India, an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) is usually required.

Read also: BIS Certification for Indian Manufacturers | BIS FMCS for Foreign Manufacturers

The Compulsory Registration Scheme currently covers 74 notified electronic and IT products, each with its applicable Indian Standard (IS). Use the search box below to quickly find your product and its IS number. Manufacturing in India? See our BIS certification for Indian manufacturers. Exporting from abroad? See BIS FMCS certification.

The notified list is updated by BIS from time to time. Not sure if your product is covered or which IS applies? Talk to our team for a quick, free check.

• Legal Market Access - Registration is mandatory before the product can be lawfully sold or imported in India
• Clears Customs - Notified products without CRS are denied entry at Indian ports
• Consumer Safety - The scheme requires compliance testing against the relevant Indian Standard
• Better Brand Trust - A registered product builds confidence among importers, distributors, and consumers
• Marketplace Listing - Amazon, Flipkart and other platforms require valid BIS registration for notified electronics
• Stronger Market Position - In a competitive electronics market, compliance is also a brand strength

The BIS CRS registration process follows a structured regulatory path with no factory audit:

Step 1 – Identify the Applicable Indian Standard
Confirm whether the product is covered under CRS and which Indian Standard applies.

Step 2 – Product Testing in a BIS Recognized Laboratory
The product must be tested in a BIS recognized laboratory. The test report becomes one of the core technical documents in the application.

Step 3 – Application Preparation and Online Filing
The manufacturer submits the application with required documents, declarations, brand details, model information, and the test report.

Step 4 – BIS Scrutiny and Verification
BIS checks the submitted documents and the laboratory report. If the application is incomplete, BIS may raise queries.

Step 5 – Grant of Registration
Once BIS is satisfied, the registration is granted, the R-Number is issued, and the product can carry the required BIS registration marking.

Manufacturers typically need the following documents for BIS CRS registration:

• Business registration or factory registration documents
• Manufacturing license or factory details
• Product model details
• Trademark certificate, where applicable
• BIS recognized lab test report
• Critical component list
• Authorized signatory documents
• Declarations and conformity documents
• AIR documents, where applicable for foreign manufacturers

Standphill India assists in document alignment, technical review, application structuring, and filing support to reduce avoidable delays.

The total cost of CRS certification usually includes government-related fees plus product testing and documentation costs.

Estimated government-side fee: ₹53,000/-

Additional costs may include laboratory testing charges, consultancy and documentation support, and model inclusion handling where applicable. Total project cost depends on the product type, number of models, and testing scope.

Because CRS does not require a factory audit, it is faster than ISI Mark or FMCS. For most Indian manufacturers, registration is typically completed in around 3 to 6 weeks once documents and testing are ready. The timeline depends mainly on two stages:

• Laboratory testing time in a BIS recognized lab
• BIS scrutiny after the application is filed

Where the documents and test reports are complete and correctly aligned, the application moves faster. Foreign manufacturers may take longer due to coordination and AIR formalities. As a rule, businesses should begin CRS compliance planning well before any shipment or launch deadline - never wait until a product is already at customs.

A BIS CRS registration is generally valid for two years and is renewable. Manufacturers should track the registration validity period carefully and apply for renewal before expiry to avoid any interruption to imports, sales or marketplace listings.

Renewal is filed with the applicable fees and updated documents. Because BIS may revise fees, validity periods or marking requirements from time to time, always verify the live renewal requirements at the time of filing - or let Standphill India track and manage the renewal for you.

When BIS approves a CRS application, it issues a system-generated Licence Document confirming the product category, product name, applicable Indian Standard (IS), brand, model, factory address and the registration (R-Number) along with its validity period. The letter also carries a QR code to verify authenticity. Here is a sample CRS grant licence:

Sample: BIS CRS Licence Document issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Sensitive details have been masked for privacy.

Standphill India has successfully assisted multiple businesses in obtaining BIS CRS certification for electronic and IT products.

Obtaining BIS CRS certification requires more than simply uploading documents. It requires product applicability review, correct Indian Standard identification, lab coordination, technical document preparation, application filing accuracy, and consistent regulatory follow-up.

• Product applicability assessment
• BIS standard identification
• BIS recognized laboratory coordination
• Technical documentation preparation
• Application scrutiny and filing support
• BIS query handling support
• End-to-end approval assistance

We have completed 500+ CRS certification projects and support clients globally through a structured compliance process with separate expert teams for CRS, FMCS, and domestic BIS certification.

Get expert support for BIS CRS certification and launch your electronic products in India with confidence.