Context
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has successfully completed 75 years of its establishment.
Important facts about Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- BIS, earlier known as the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), was founded in 1947.
- The Bureau is a Body Corporate consisting of 25 members representing both Central and State governments, Members of Parliament, industry, scientific and research institutions, consumer organizations and professional bodies; with Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution as its President and with Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution as its Vice-President.
- It is a statutory body established under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016 as the National Standards Body of India.
- It is the only national body that frames standards.
- It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
- It aims for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization and marking and quality certification of goods.
Brief background
- Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) came into existence, through an act of parliament dated 26 November 1986, on 1 April 1987, with a broadened scope and more powers taking over the staff, assets, liabilities and functions of erstwhile ISI.
- Through this change over, the government envisaged building a climate for quality culture and consciousness and greater participation of consumers in formulation and implementation of national standards.
How is BIS beneficial for the Indian economy?
BIS has been providing traceable and tangible benefits to the national economy in a number of ways –
- providing safe reliable quality goods
- minimizing health hazards to consumers
- promoting exports and imports substitute
- control over proliferation of varieties etc. through standardization, certification and testing
