Key highlights
Yes. The Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020 (S.O. 4044(E)), issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries on 11 November 2020, requires BIS certification under Scheme X for the 26 products it covers. Covered products cannot be manufactured, imported, sold or distributed in India without it.
- Order: S.O. 4044(E), notified in the Gazette of India on 11 November 2020.
- Issued by: Ministry of Heavy Industries.
- Covers 26 products: AC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings above 440 V AC, AC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings above 630 A, up to 440 V AC, AC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings up to 630 A, up to 440 V AC and 23 more.
- Indian Standards: IS/IEC 60947: Part 2, IS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1, IS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 5, IS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 1, IS/IEC 60947: Part 5: Sec 2, IS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 3 and 2 more.
- Status: In force; BIS certification mandatory.
- History: 8 related notifications, the latest dated 6 November 2025.
Key details
- Order number
- S.O. 4044(E)
- Issued by
- Ministry of Heavy Industries
- Notified
- Implementation date
- As per Gazette notification
- Latest deferment
- Status
- In force
- BIS certification
- Mandatory
- Licence needed
- BIS certification
- Scheme
- Scheme-X
- Products covered
- 26
- Penalty
- Fine of at least ₹2 lakh, or imprisonment of up to 2 years
- Last verified
- October 2026
About the order
The Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order, 2020 was notified in the Gazette of India as S.O. 4044(E) on 11 November 2020 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. It applies to 26 products, each of which has to conform to its Indian Standard.
BIS certification is mandatory for the covered products.
What it means for businesses
Manufacturers, importers and sellers of the covered products need BIS certification under Scheme X before the products can be made, imported or sold in India.
Amendments
The order has 8 related notifications (amendments, extensions and similar); the most recent is dated 6 November 2025. Each is listed with its Gazette PDF under Dates and Amendments.
Source: the Gazette notification and the BIS list of products under compulsory certification. Confirm the current position with BIS before acting on it.
Products Covered (26)
Each product below needs BIS certification under this order. Open one for its standard and process.
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings above 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings above 630 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratings up to 630 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category B) – All ratingsIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category B) – All ratings above 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category B) – All ratings up to 2000 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIAC Circuit-Breakers (Category B) – Ratings above 2000 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIContactors and Motor-Starters – All DC utilization categories, all DC ratingsIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIContactors – All AC utilization categories, above 32 AIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIContactors – All AC utilization categories, up to 32 AIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIDC Circuit-Breakers (Category A) – All ratingsIS/IEC 60947: Part 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISIDirect-on-Line AC Starters – All AC utilization categoriesIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIElectrical Emergency Stop Devices with Mechanical Latching – All actuator typesIS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 5
- ISI mark scheme: ISIElectrical Emergency Stop Devices with Mechanical Latching – Button-type actuatorsIS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 5
- ISI mark scheme: ISIElectromechanical Control Circuit Devices – All AC utilization categories, above 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIElectromechanical Control Circuit Devices – All AC utilization categories, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIElectromechanical Control Circuit Devices – All DC utilization categories, all DC ratingsIS/IEC 60947 : Part 5 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIMotor-Starters (all other AC starters) – All AC utilization categoriesIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 1
- ISI mark scheme: ISIProximity Switches – All ratingsIS/IEC 60947: Part 5: Sec 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISISemiconductor Controllers and Semiconductor Contactors for Non-Motor Loads – All ratingsIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 3
- ISI mark scheme: ISISemiconductor Motor Controllers, Starters and Soft Starters – All ratingsIS/IEC 60947 : Part 4 : Sec 2
- ISI mark scheme: ISISwitches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors and Fuse-Combination Units – All AC utilization categories, above 630 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 3
- ISI mark scheme: ISISwitches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors and Fuse-Combination Units – All AC utilization categories, all ratings above 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 3
- ISI mark scheme: ISISwitches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors and Fuse-Combination Units – All AC utilization categories, up to 250 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 3
- ISI mark scheme: ISISwitches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors and Fuse-Combination Units – All AC utilization categories, up to 630 A, up to 440 V ACIS/IEC 60947: Part 3
- ISI mark scheme: ISISwitches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors and Fuse-Combination Units – All DC utilization categories, all ratingsIS/IEC 60947: Part 3
Dates and Amendments
Notified in the Gazette
11 November 2020
Deferment
Deferment of upcoming phase implementation of the Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Order 2020 and subsequent amendments from time to time
S.O. 5038(E)Gazette PDF (opens in a new tab)
Amendment
Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2024
S.O. 2007(E)Gazette PDF (opens in a new tab)
Guidelines
Product Specific Guidelines for Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear: Switches, Disconnectors, Switch-Disconnectors, and Fuse-Combination Units
Guidelines
Product Specific Guidelines for Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear: Electromechanical Contactor(s) and Motor Starter(s)
Guidelines
Product Specific Guidelines for Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear: Control circuit devices and switching elements-Electromechanical control circuit devices
Guidelines
Product Specific Guidelines for Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear: Control circuit devices and switching elements-Electromechanical control circuit devices with mechanical latching functions
Amendment
Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2024
S.O. 1896(E)Gazette PDF (opens in a new tab)
Amendment
Electrical Equipment (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023
S.O. 2132(E)Gazette PDF (opens in a new tab)
Who Must Comply
- Indian manufacturers
- Importers
- Foreign manufacturers
- Traders, sellers and distributors
How to Comply
Covered products are certified under the Product Certification Scheme (Scheme-I, ISI mark). These are the standard steps.
- 1
Confirm the standard and product scope
Check the Indian Standard that applies, the product variants and grades you make, and whether a Quality Control Order makes certification mandatory.
- 2
Apply on BIS Manakonline
Submit the licence application with factory, manufacturing and quality-control details and pay the application fee. Foreign manufacturers apply under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) and appoint an Authorised Indian Representative.
- 3
Factory inspection and sample testing
A BIS officer inspects the factory, checks the manufacturing and in-house testing set-up, and draws samples for testing against the Indian Standard in a BIS or BIS-recognised laboratory.
- 4
Licence grant
Once the samples pass and the inspection is satisfactory, BIS grants the licence, and the product can carry the ISI mark with the licence number.
- 5
Surveillance and renewal
BIS keeps checking marked products through surveillance inspections and market samples, and the licence must be renewed before it expires.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Fine of at least ₹2 lakh, or imprisonment of up to 2 years
Contravening a Quality Control Order is punishable under section 29 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Official Sources
Compiled from the Gazette of India and official BIS sources, last verified in October 2026. Orders are amended and deferred from time to time; confirm the current position with BIS or the issuing ministry before acting on it.
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