India BIS Screen Protector Licensing: IS 19348 Rules
India BIS Screen Protector Licensing: New IS 19348 Guidelines Set Sampling, Scope and Marking Rules
India BIS screen protector licensing has moved from a deadline to a working procedure. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published guidelines, dated 15 October 2026, that explain how licences for glass screen protectors for smartphones are granted, extended and operated under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). They apply with immediate effect, and they matter to anyone planning to sell glass screen protectors in India from 1 April 2027.
Background: screen protectors join the Compulsory Registration Order
In September 2026 the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) amended the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, adding screen protectors for smartphones as entry 66 of its schedule. GMA Labs covered that amendment on 24 September 2026: from 1 April 2027, covered products must meet IS 19348:2025 (Glass Screen Protector Specification) and carry the BIS Standard Mark under a CRS registration.
The new BIS document, issued by Central Marks Department-2 under reference CMD-2/16:19348, fills in the practical side. It covers grant of licence under Scheme-II of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, changes in licence scope, and day-to-day operation of the licence.
Key Changes in the India BIS Screen Protector Licensing Process
What can be covered
The guidelines apply to glass screen protectors used on smartphones, as defined in clause 3.3 of IS 19348, with or without a privacy film. Products can be made in nominal (declared) dimensions within the tolerances in clause 4.1.1 and Table 1 of the standard. Each manufacturer must identify and declare the models it wants in the scope of its licence.
Series guidelines
All models must comply with IS 19348. BIS notes that MeitY may issue series guidelines for these licences later, which would decide how models can be grouped. Until then, plan on each model being declared individually.
Sampling and the test request
A complete test needs 40 pieces, and Table 3 in Annex D of IS 19348 gives the detailed sampling plan. Every test request must declare:
the intended device
dimensions (length × width × thickness, in mm)
whether a privacy film is used
make and model number
a drawing of the product, where applicable
How the licence scope is written
The licence will list the product, the make and model, a dimension range ("from" one length × width × thickness "up to and including" another) together with the drawing number, and whether the protector comes with or without a privacy film. Adding models or dimensions later is a change in scope, and the same declarations apply to the new samples.
Packing and marking
Packing and marking follow clause 5 of IS 19348. On top of that, the CRS Standard Mark shown in the licence must appear on the screen protector and on the test certificate, if one is supplied. Each piece must also carry a legible fog marking with the make and model number as the product identification code, plus an indication of the source and year of manufacture.
What This Means for Manufacturers
Fog marking on every piece is a production change, so it needs to be planned with the glass supplier now.
Forty pieces per complete test adds up quickly for brands with many phone-specific cuts.
Dimension ranges and drawings have to be ready before the test request, and should match the licence scope you want.
Without series guidelines yet, it's safer to assume each model needs its own declaration and testing.
Foreign manufacturers register through an Authorised Indian Representative, as with other CRS products.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After | Impact level |
Legal requirement | Entry 66 added to the CRO by MeitY, mandatory from 1 April 2027 | Unchanged | Medium |
Licence procedure | No product-specific BIS guidance for screen protectors | CMD-2 guidelines for grant, change in scope and operation | High |
Test samples | Not specified | 40 pieces per complete test, sampling plan in Annex D | High |
Test request | General CRS details | Intended device, dimensions, privacy film, make/model, drawing | Medium |
Licence scope | Not specified | Make/model, dimension range with drawing number, privacy film with/without | Medium |
Marking | Standard Mark under CRS | Standard Mark on product and test certificate, plus fog marking on each piece | High |
Series grouping | Not specified | MeitY may issue series guidelines | To be confirmed |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
21 September 2026 | MeitY adds screen protectors for smartphones to the CRO (S.O. 5190(E)) |
15 October 2026 | BIS CMD-2 licensing guidelines issued, in force immediately |
1 April 2027 | Registration under IS 19348:2025 mandatory |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
Confirm which of your products are glass screen protectors for smartphones under clause 3.3 of IS 19348.
List the models and dimension ranges you want in your licence and prepare drawings for each.
Add fog marking with make, model, source and year of manufacture to your production process.
Arrange 40-piece samples per complete test with a BIS-recognised laboratory.
Appoint your Authorised Indian Representative if you are a foreign manufacturer.
Watch for MeitY series guidelines before deciding how many models to test.
File early enough to hold a registration well before 1 April 2027.
Conclusion
The BIS guidelines turn India BIS screen protector licensing into a defined process with clear sampling, scope and marking rules. The fog marking and the per-model declarations are the parts most likely to need lead time, so manufacturers should start now rather than wait for the April 2027 deadline. Our team can manage your CRS registration through the agency in India and plan testing for your full product range.
