BIS Scheme X Certification for Switchgear and Machinery
BIS Scheme X certification is the route for low voltage switchgear and controlgear under the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order. Since the machinery order was repealed on 14 January 2026, it is also a voluntary route for machinery safety. We check whether your product needs it, build the technical file and handle the BIS application through to grant.
What it is
Scheme-X is one of the conformity assessment schemes in Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. It suits complex equipment, where a sample test alone cannot prove safety. BIS looks at a technical file covering design, manufacture and operation, the test reports, and the factory’s manufacturing, in-process and quality controls before it grants a licence to use the Standard Mark.
Today BIS Scheme X certification is used in two ways. It is compulsory for AC circuit-breakers under the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020, tested to IS/IEC 60947-2; the order’s other switchgear categories are on hold. And for machinery, BIS now runs it as voluntary certification, after the Ministry of Heavy Industries repealed the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 on 14 January 2026.
Who it applies to
You make switchgear or controlgear
Makers of AC circuit-breakers up to 630 A, which the Electrical Equipment QCO covers today. Switches, contactors and similar products join when their deferred dates are notified.
You export to India from abroad
Overseas factories apply through BIS’s Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. Importers and traders cannot hold the licence themselves; they must buy from certified factories.
You build machinery
Makers of compressors, presses, machining centres or injection moulding machines who want BIS Scheme X certification as proof of safety.
Why it matters
Sell notified switchgear legally
Once a QCO applies, no one may make, import, sell or store the product without the Standard Mark under a valid licence.
Get a longer first term than an ISI licence
Switchgear licences under the QCO are first granted for three to six years.
Show machinery buyers proof of safety
Machinery certification is now optional, but the mark still answers buyers and tenders that ask for proof of safety.
Documents required
Technical file
- Design drawings, circuit diagrams and specifications
- Bill of critical components and their certifications
- Risk assessment and user manual
- Product Compliance Report (Form-I for machinery)
Test reports
- Type test reports from a BIS-recognised lab, under five years old
- Conformity test reports under one year old
- All accessories supplied with the product included in testing
Factory and company
- Manufacturing licence and factory address proof
- Process flow and in-process quality controls
- List of test equipment with calibration
- Authorised signatory and, for foreign makers, the Indian representative
What changed in 2026
| Product group | Scheme-X status today |
|---|---|
| Low voltage switchgear and controlgear (IS/IEC 60947 parts 2, 3 and 4-1) | Compulsory for AC circuit-breakers (Category A, up to 630 A, 440 V AC) since 10 November 2024. The other seven categories of the 2020 Order are deferred until further notice (S.O. 5038(E), 6 November 2025) |
| Complete machinery and plant equipment | Voluntary since the Omnibus Technical Regulation Order, 2024 was repealed on 14 January 2026 |
| Components and spare parts of machinery | Still covered by their own QCOs under Scheme-I or Scheme-II, where notified |
The machinery repeal did not free the parts inside the machine. Here is the catch: a motor, cable or switch that has its own QCO still needs its own ISI mark licence or registration. Picture a Faridabad maker of power presses that dropped its Scheme-X file after the January repeal. The press can now be sold without the mark, but any notified component it buys in must still carry one.
How it works
Confirm the product, phase and standard
We map your product and rating to the QCO phase and the IS/IEC standard, or confirm that certification would be voluntary. In practice, one range can straddle the line: breakers up to 630 A are covered, larger ones not yet.
Build the technical file and get it tested
Samples are tested at a BIS-recognised lab listed on the LIMS portal. We assemble the technical file around the test results; BIS does not accept a Scheme-X application without it.
File the application with BIS
We file the application on the BIS portal and pay the fees you approve.
Prepare for the factory assessment
BIS auditors assess the manufacturing set-up, in-process and quality controls and testing capability. For machinery the site audit usually takes four man-days with two auditors.
Use the mark and stay in surveillance
After grant, the Standard Mark goes on the product and package. We track surveillance, renewal and new ratings you add.
Timelines
Get testing done first
Type test reports stay usable for five years, conformity reports for one year.
Expect a desk review in 15 days
Under the voluntary machinery guidelines, BIS checks the technical file for completeness within 15 days of the application.
Hold the licence for 3 to 6 years
Switchgear licences under the QCO are first granted for not less than three and up to six years, then renewed.
What happens if you sell without it
Face prosecution under Section 29(3)
Breaking Section 17 of the BIS Act can bring up to two years’ imprisonment, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh (₹5 lakh for a repeat offence) going up to ten times the value of the goods, or both.
Get imports held at the port
Customs has been instructed to check compliance for notified switchgear. Say a Delhi trader brings in AC circuit-breakers from an unlicensed overseas factory: the consignment can be stopped at the port.
Lose distributor orders
Distributors cannot stock or sell uncertified notified switchgear either.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIS Scheme X still mandatory for machinery?
No. The Ministry of Heavy Industries repealed the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 with effect from 14 January 2026. BIS has since said machinery safety certification under Scheme-X will be done on a voluntary basis. Components and spare parts with their own QCOs still need certification. If you make or import complete machines, the mark is now your choice, and we help you weigh it against what buyers ask for.
Which products still need Scheme-X certification?
Today, AC circuit-breakers (Category A) rated up to 630 A and 440 V AC, tested to IS/IEC 60947-2. They have been compulsory under the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020 since 10 November 2024. The order’s other categories, such as switches, disconnectors and contactors, were deferred until further notice by S.O. 5038(E) dated 6 November 2025. We check your exact product and rating against the latest notice.
How is Scheme-X different from the ISI mark under Scheme-I?
Scheme-I licences rest mainly on testing samples against the standard plus a factory inspection. Scheme-X adds a technical file covering design, manufacture and operation, and BIS will not accept an application without it. It is meant for equipment whose safety depends on design as much as on a sample test. Both lead to a licence to use the Standard Mark. We help you prepare the file BIS expects, so the application is complete on day one.
How long is a Scheme-X licence valid?
For products notified under the Electrical Equipment QCO, the licence is first granted for not less than three years and up to six years. It can then be renewed under the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Surveillance continues while the licence is in force. We keep the expiry date on our diary and start renewal early, so your mark never lapses.
Can an importer get the Scheme-X licence?
No. Dealers, importers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors cannot hold the licence. It is granted to the manufacturer for each manufacturing facility. A foreign factory applies through the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. If you import notified switchgear, buy only from a factory that holds a valid licence for that product and rating. We can verify the supplier’s licence for you before you order.
How old can the test reports be?
Type test reports less than five years old and conformity test reports less than one year old are accepted. Reports must come from BIS-recognised labs listed on the LIMS portal. Reports from different labs can be combined only if each complete test sequence is done at one lab, and accessories supplied with the product must be included. We review your existing reports first, so you only retest what is needed.
Are there fee concessions for MSMEs?
Yes. For voluntary Scheme-X certification of machinery, BIS offers concessions until 31 May 2029: 80% for micro enterprises, 50% for small enterprises, 80% for start-ups, and an extra 10% for women-led micro, small or medium enterprises. You will need a valid Udyam registration to show your category. We make sure the concession is claimed when the fee is paid.
Where must the Standard Mark appear?
On the product and on its package. If marking the product itself is not possible, the mark goes on the test certificate. A product tested only at certain ratings may carry the mark only for those ratings; untested ratings need separate identification. We check your label artwork before production starts.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
BIS publishes the Scheme-X fee schedule on its website (notification of 24 May 2023, amended 6 June 2024 and 17 March 2026). Lab testing charges are paid to the lab. Machinery concessions for micro and small units need a valid Udyam registration.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product range and ratings, and we will tell you whether Scheme-X is compulsory, optional or not needed, and plan the file.