The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued guidelines to verify the rated capacity of portable sealed secondary lithium cells and batteries.

All such cells and batteries must be tested for their actual discharge capacity at 20°C.

For Existing Licensees

The guidelines are in response to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s order mandating proper testing of lithium batteries to ensure their actual capacity matches the manufacturer’s claim. The Ministry mandated that the tests comply with specific Indian standards and that the results be included in the official compliance report.

Manufacturers of portable sealed secondary lithium cells and batteries with existing BIS registration licenses valid through April 30, 2027, must submit test reports from a BIS-recognized third-party laboratory, confirming compliance by that date.

Those with licenses valid beyond April 30, 2027, must confirm their compliance by their license expiry dates.

Manufacturers must raise their testing requests through BIS’ Laboratory Information Management System and apply online through the Standard Revision/Amendment/Essential Requirement Module.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in suspension or cancellation of the manufacturers’ license or deletion of their models from the approved scope of license.

For New Applicants

The guidelines state that existing applications with samples submitted to laboratories for testing or with issued test reports can be processed without additional testing. However, after April 30, 2027, no license will be granted unless the battery’s rated capacity is tested in accordance with the guidelines.

If a company has already applied for license registration and its application is still being processed, the applicant must provide a written undertaking that it would submit the required rated capacity test before its license expires.

According to the new guidelines, no license will be granted after April 30, 2027, unless the battery’s rated capacity test results are included in the lab test reports from a BIS-recognized third-party laboratory.

Change in License Scope

The guidelines state that applications for a change in the scope of the license will be subject to the same compliance requirements as those for new applicants.

Last September, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)  issued draft guidelines for series approval of storage batteries for compulsory registration with the BIS under the Solar Systems, Devices and Component Goods Order 2025.

In June, MNRE issued draft safety guidelines for battery energy storage systems.

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