India to ease BIS certification rules for high-tech manufacturing sector

The government is developing a framework to relieve high-tech sector firms, including Japanese companies, from mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for equipment and components required to establish manufacturing facilities in India, according to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Goyal acknowledged concerns raised by Japanese firms operating in semiconductors and artificial intelligence sectors regarding BIS certification requirements. He stated that the government has instructed both the BIS and the Commerce and Industry Ministry to develop an appropriate framework addressing these issues.

The proposed framework could provide exemptions at multiple levels—company, industry, product or project—based on specific requirements, Goyal indicated. The flexibility in the approach reflects the government's recognition that different high-tech sectors may have distinct compliance needs.

The central objective of the initiative is to ensure timely access to equipment, goods and services for high-tech manufacturers establishing operations in India, thereby strengthening the Make in India programme. By streamlining certification procedures for critical manufacturing inputs, the government aims to make India a more competitive destination for semiconductor and AI sector investments.

The move comes as India intensifies efforts to attract foreign investment in advanced manufacturing sectors and reduce bureaucratic obstacles that could delay facility setup and operational timelines.