Context
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has recently released several new standards for medical assistive technologies under the National List of Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP) initiative, aimed at improving quality and accessibility of essential assistive devices in healthcare.
About The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s national standards-setting body, established under the BIS Act, 2016.
- It functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and is headquartered in New Delhi, with offices across India.
- It replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), which was set up in 1947, and represents India in global standard bodies like ISO and IEC.
Core Mandate
- BIS is responsible for developing and implementing standards related to quality, safety, and certification of goods and services.
- It ensures uniformity in products through standardisation, testing, and marking systems.
Key Functions
- The organisation provides certification and licensing to manufacturers across sectors including agriculture, textiles, and electronics.
- It supports consumer safety by ensuring availability of reliable products and reducing health risks.
- It also aids economic growth by promoting exports, encouraging import substitution, and streamlining product varieties.
