BIS Certification

ALMM and inverter compliance: MNRE’s current ALMM page publishes solar PV module and cell lists, not an inverter list. Verify the inverter’s exact model documents and applicable scheme or DISCOM requirements separately.

What is BIS certification

BIS Certification is mandatory Indian quality certification administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards under various Quality Control Orders issued by the Government of India. For solar specifically, the Solar PV Quality Control Order 2017 (and amendments) makes BIS certification mandatory for solar PV modules, solar inverters and related equipment sold in India.

The certification requires conformity to specific IS standards (Indian Standards), often based on or harmonised with corresponding IEC international standards. Testing is done at BIS-recognised laboratories. Factory inspection verifies manufacturing processes. The BIS mark on the product certifies compliance, and MNRE treats it as the entry-level compliance check before any subsidy or empanelment scheme comes into play.

For Indian solar projects, BIS certification is the foundation: ALMM listing requires it as a prerequisite, DISCOM commissioning checks it, and customers receive recourse only against BIS-certified products.

BIS certification explained simply

Before a solar panel or solar inverter can be sold in India, it needs to be tested by an Indian-government-approved lab, the factory has to be inspected, and the Bureau of Indian Standards has to issue a certificate confirming the product meets Indian quality standards. Without that certificate, selling the product is illegal.

Why BIS certification matters

Legal requirement. Mandatory under Quality Control Orders for solar PV modules and inverters.

Quality floor. Verified compliance with IS / IEC test standards.

ALMM prerequisite. No BIS, no ALMM listing, no subsidy or tender eligibility.

Customer protection. Defective BIS-certified products carry recourse.

Standardisation. Reduces market fragmentation from low-quality imports, part of why Made-in-India solar inverters have gained ground over uncertified grey-market imports.

Relevant IS standards for solar

BIS certification process

1. Manufacturer applies through BIS portal with product details.
2. Sample testing at BIS-recognised laboratory.
3. Factory inspection by BIS officers.
4. Review of quality management system.
5. License grant with certificate number.
6. Periodic surveillance through market samples and factory re-inspection.
7. Renewal before the licence validity ends (initial grant up to two years; renewal up to five years, per the BIS FAQ).

Real-world applications

Module supply for any Indian solar project.

Inverter supply for any Indian solar project, verified against the same IEC 62109-based safety requirements referenced by IS 16221.

PM Surya Ghar disbursement preconditions.

ALMM application gating.

Customs clearance for imported solar equipment.

DISCOM commissioning verification, which on larger sites runs alongside CEIG electrical drawing approvals prepared for the same installation.

Advantages

Statutory backing.

Standardised testing protocol.

Factory inspection adds production-process verification.

Customer recourse against defective products.

Reduces low-quality market entry.

Limitations

Long certification timelines.

Cost burden on smaller manufacturers.

Surveillance enforcement is uneven.

Standards updates lag international best practice.

Imported equipment certification adds friction.

Common problems

Application backlog or scheduling delays at BIS or the testing lab.

Sample failure on first test, requiring product redesign.

Factory inspection findings requiring rework.

Surveillance test failure leading to license revocation.

Counterfeit BIS marks on uncertified products.

License renewal delay disrupting supply.

Best practices

Engage BIS-recognised consultants early in product design.

Prepare quality management system documentation.

Pre-test internally before BIS sample submission.

Schedule factory inspection with adequate preparation time.

Monitor BIS notifications for standard amendments.

Verify BIS certification before procurement.

Indian market context

The Solar PV Quality Control Order 2017 (and amendments) is the primary regulatory instrument for mandatory BIS certification of solar modules and inverters, and it works alongside module-level standards such as IEC 61215 and IEC 61730, and battery-storage safety under IEC 62619, which the corresponding IS standards are harmonised with.

BIS-recognised testing laboratories include NISE, CPRI, ERTL, TUV India, UL India, Bureau Veritas India, Intertek and others.

Foreign manufacturers can obtain BIS certification through FMCS, although the process is longer and more expensive.

Standards and certifications

Common mistakes

Procuring non-BIS-certified equipment to save cost. Subsidy denied, DISCOM commissioning refused. This is one of the most common solar inverter buying mistakes EPCs and homeowners make when chasing a lower quote.

Trusting a BIS mark without verifying the certificate number.

Ignoring surveillance results that may have revoked the certification.

Buying products with expired BIS certificates.

Missing BIS amendments that update test requirements, which is why reading a solar inverter datasheet carefully alongside the certificate matters at procurement stage.

Further reading

For how BIS Certification plays out in real projects, these guides go deeper:

• Solar Inverter Manufacturers, EPC Evaluation Guide
• Solar Inverter Certifications: 9 Standards to Verify
• Inverter Procurement India: EPC Sourcing Guide
• How to Read Solar Inverter Datasheets

Sources

• Bureau of Indian Standards, official website and product certification database.
• Solar PV Quality Control Order 2017 and amendments, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• IS 14286, IS 16077, IS 16221, IS 16270, IS 16893, IS 13314, BIS.
• Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016, Government of India.
• BIS Conformity Assessment Scheme guidelines.
• BIS Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme guidelines.
• BIS Care App documentation.
• Bureau of Indian Standards, Product Certification FAQ (fees, licence validity): https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/product-certification-faq/
• MNRE Annual Reports.