The Registration Scheme came into existence around 2012 with the advent of India to introduce regulation into the Electronics Sector. Designed for low-risk items that could be qualified based on self-declaration, the registration scheme is commonly known as CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme), when it is mandated for certain goods by any regulating Ministry in India.

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has notified “Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012” on 3 Oct 2012 and with various subsequent additions / alterations, various Electrical / Electronic goods have been mandated for CRS based on their compliance to Indian Safety Standards. The Scheme has also been subsequently invoked by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) by an Order called the Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices, and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017 and its subsequent iterations.

Many items used for Solar Photovoltaic Systems are mandated under CRS today.  The CRS is a comparatively simpler version of certification where manufacturers could go to any of the BIS recognized labs for testing of their products. It can file applications for registration with the BIS with a copy of Self Declaration and Test reports. Bureau of Indian Standards then registers the manufacturers under its registration scheme who are permitted to use CRS Mark Logo with respective registration number granted by BIS on the registered products. A detailed list of items covered under CRS is available on the BIS website https://bis.gov.in

Overall, the CRS ensures that products sold in India meet the required safety and quality standards, and protects consumers from potentially harmful or substandard products.

Registration by BIS is granted to Manufacturing Units. Testing of products manufactured has major role for registration of Manufacturers under the CRS scheme. Registration requires that the notified products comply to respective Indian Standards. The Scheme demands testing of products be done only at BIS recognised testing laboratories. The requests for testing are to be raised through a unified portal by choosing a lab of Preference. Test Reports are directly uploaded by the labs on the portal for quick decisions at BIS. Applicants’ Registration on the portal thus becomes a pre-requisite to initiate testing under CRS. 

Conformity Testing Labs being NABL Accredited and BIS Recognised, provide a wide range of scope for testing of products as per different Indian Standards mandated under CRS.