An Indian solar EPC company is preparing to source two grid-connected inverter models from an overseas manufacturer. One is rated at 100 kW and another at 250 kW.
The manufacturer already has IEC test certificates and tells the Indian buyer, “The inverter is internationally certified, so BIS should be straightforward.”
That assumption can create a compliance problem.
In India, the correct BIS route depends not merely on whether a product is called an “inverter,” but on its intended application, electrical characteristics, grid connection, capacity, applicable Indian Standards and the regulatory notification covering it.
For solar products in particular, the compliance landscape changed materially under the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, and another important temporary provision was introduced for certain inverters above 200 kW in July 2026.
The example above is illustrative, but the compliance question is very real: before sending samples to a laboratory or filing a BIS application, the business must first determine exactly which product category applies.
For solar inverter categories covered by the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, the notified products are required to comply with the relevant Indian Standards and bear the Standard Mark under a BIS licence following Scheme-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018.
The requirement covers two inverter categories that businesses should distinguish carefully:
These categories do not have identical testing requirements.
That distinction should be resolved before choosing a test laboratory, preparing a model series or budgeting the certification project.
The applicable standard depends on how the inverter is designed and used.
| Product category | Applicable standards under the current framework |
| Power inverter for use in a photovoltaic power system | IS 16221 (Part 2):2015 / IEC 62109-2:2011 and IS/IEC 61683:1999 |
| Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverter | IS 16221 (Part 2):2015 / IEC 62109-2:2011, IS 16169:2019 / IEC 62116:2014 and IS 17980:2022 / IEC 62891:2020 |
The 2025 Order also provides that the latest version of an Indian Standard, including amendments as notified by BIS, is to apply. Businesses should therefore verify the current standard status immediately before testing or filing rather than relying on an old test plan or consultant checklist.
IS 16221 Part 2 addresses safety requirements applicable to power-conversion equipment used in photovoltaic systems.
For the notified solar inverter categories, however, filing only against IS 16221 Part 2 may no longer be sufficient. The additional standards applicable to the relevant category must also be considered under the revised framework.
The revised framework for power inverters used in photovoltaic systems incorporates IS/IEC 61683:1999 in addition to IS 16221 Part 2. BIS’s March 2025 implementation guidance specifically addresses the additional testing requirement for new and existing registrations.
Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters have a wider standards combination. In addition to the safety standard, the current notified route includes IS 16169:2019 and IS 17980:2022. BIS issued specific implementation guidance for this category in March 2025.
This is one reason a generic search for “solar inverter BIS certificate” is not enough to determine compliance.
Before starting the application, answer these four questions.
If no, do not automatically apply the solar-inverter standards. Check the separate BIS category applicable to the equipment.
If yes, the utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverter category must be evaluated, including its additional standards.
This matters especially in 2026 because a temporary implementation provision currently applies specifically to SPV inverters above 200 kW.
Model grouping must be checked against the applicable BIS/MNRE series guidelines. BIS’s implementation guidance refers to testing of lead models in accordance with the applicable series guidelines.
A technically similar model family should therefore not automatically be assumed to qualify under one test report.
This is one of the most important compliance checks for businesses planning utility-scale projects in 2026.
MNRE’s July 2026 notification provides that implementation of the 2025 Order for SPV inverters covered under the relevant inverter items with capacity above 200 kW is extended until 31 December 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, on a self-certification basis subject to the conditions specified by MNRE. Those conditions include manufacturers holding valid IEC certificates corresponding to the relevant Indian Standards and test reports from accredited testing laboratories.
It should not be interpreted as a permanent exemption from BIS requirements.
It is also expressly capacity-specific. A manufacturer should not assume that the same temporary provision automatically applies to a 50 kW, 100 kW or 200 kW model simply because the company also manufactures a 250 kW inverter. That conclusion follows from the >200 kW scope stated in the July 2026 notification.
Businesses using the temporary route should also prepare for the end of the relaxation rather than waiting until the final weeks of 2026.
No.
“Power electronics” is a technology description, not one BIS product category.
The current BIS CRS list separately identifies solar power converters, utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters and other electrical/electronic products. For example, the current list also contains a separate category for certain UPS/inverters up to 10 kVA and a separate category for standalone switch-mode power supplies with output voltage up to 48 V.
That means businesses should avoid this shortcut:
“It converts electrical power, therefore it should use the solar inverter standard.”
Instead, classify the product using:
Not simply because the factory is outside India.
The Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025 points the covered solar inverter categories to Scheme-II. Foreign location alone does not convert a Scheme-II product into the BIS Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme.
Under the CRS framework, a foreign applicant without an Indian liaison office or branch office is required to appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) in accordance with the applicable BIS requirements.
This distinction is particularly important for importers who are used to seeing “foreign manufacturer” and “FMCS” discussed together.
The certification scheme should be determined from the product’s regulatory route first – not from the manufacturer’s country.
Under CRS, the registration is manufacturer-linked.
An Indian importer, distributor or brand owner may be closely involved in document collection, product launch and coordination, but the manufacturing facility and product scope must be evaluated correctly for the BIS application. Current BIS guidance requires manufacturer-related declarations, testing infrastructure information and third-party test reports as part of the Scheme-II framework.
For foreign manufacturers, AIR documentation must also be prepared where applicable.
A practical certification project normally starts well before the portal application.
Review the product datasheet, application, rating, grid connection and model family.
The objective is to establish:
List all models proposed for India and compare their:
BIS’s March 2025 implementation guidance refers to lead-model testing under the applicable MNRE series guidelines, making correct model grouping important before samples are sent for testing.
A laboratory being “BIS recognized” in general is not enough.
The laboratory’s current recognition scope should cover the specific Indian Standard and relevant testing capability required for the product. BIS’s live laboratory system lists approved standards and scope details for individual laboratories, which can change over time.
Verify the lab scope before committing samples or testing fees.
The test plan should cover every applicable standard for the product category.
For example, a PV power inverter application should not be planned around IS 16221 Part 2 alone when the current notified category also requires IS/IEC 61683. Likewise, utility-interconnected models need to be reviewed against their complete notified standard combination.
The exact document set should be confirmed against the current BIS portal requirements.
Typical information reviewed before filing can include:
| Document area | Typical information |
| Manufacturer | Legal entity and factory information |
| Product | Datasheet, ratings, model list and technical specifications |
| Testing | Applicable BIS-recognized laboratory test reports |
| Model grouping | Lead model and series/model relationship |
| Brand | Brand ownership or authorization where applicable |
| Foreign manufacturer | AIR-related documents where applicable |
| Technical file | Manuals, product information and supporting technical records |
| Application | Current declarations, undertakings and portal information |
Green Permits’ existing BIS delivery framework similarly emphasizes product classification, model lists, technical datasheets, testing coordination and application readiness.
The current BIS framework provides for online CRS applications supported by the prescribed information and test reports from BIS-recognized laboratories.
If BIS identifies inconsistencies or missing information, the response should address the issue with supporting evidence rather than simply uploading revised documents without explanation.
Common areas requiring review include:
Once registration is granted, product marking and associated information should be prepared according to the current BIS CRS requirements for the registered product and approved model scope.
The 2025 Order requires the covered goods to bear the Standard Mark under licence from BIS.
Before filing, a manufacturer should be able to answer yes to each of the following:
If several answers are “no,” testing or filing should usually not be the next step. The compliance route should be clarified first.
There is no responsible single-price answer that applies to every inverter.
The total project cost can depend on:
The supplied Green Permits keyword data confirms that users frequently search for BIS certification cost and registration fees, but exact costs for a solar inverter project should be calculated after product and model mapping rather than borrowed from a general BIS article.
Avoid planning around a generic promise such as “BIS certification in X days.”
Actual completion depends on factors such as:
For a commercial product launch, certification planning should therefore begin before the planned import or sales date.
The current framework may require additional standards depending on whether the product is a PV power inverter or utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverter.
For utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters, current BIS implementation guidance refers to IS 16169:2019 together with the additional applicable standards.
Lead-model selection and series treatment should be checked against the applicable guidelines rather than determined solely from the brand’s internal product-family name.
Recognition is standard-specific and scope-specific. Current status should be checked through BIS before testing.
The 2025 Order establishes a BIS Scheme-II requirement for the covered inverter categories. The July 2026 notification creates a specific temporary arrangement for qualifying >200 kW inverters; it should not be generalized to all products.
The relevant solar inverter categories are routed through Scheme-II under the 2025 Order. Foreign-manufacturer representation requirements should be handled within the applicable CRS framework.
Consider a foreign manufacturer planning to launch two utility-interconnected PV inverter models in India:
Both products first need accurate classification and standards mapping.
The 100 kW product should not be assumed to benefit from the temporary >200 kW implementation provision.
The 250 kW model, because it exceeds 200 kW, may fall within the current temporary arrangement if all conditions of the July 2026 notification are satisfied. That arrangement currently runs until 31 December 2026 or further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
From a compliance-planning perspective, the manufacturer should therefore maintain separate regulatory treatment for the two models and prepare for the post-relaxation requirement instead of treating the 250 kW provision as permanent.
This example is illustrative and is not a determination for any particular manufacturer.
After approval, businesses should maintain a structured compliance file covering:
The current CRS portal states that registrations are initially granted for a defined validity period and are subject to renewal under the applicable BIS procedure, so expiry and inclusion requirements should be tracked rather than treated as one-time certification work.
The 2025 Solar Goods Order also authorizes BIS to undertake market surveillance for the covered products, reinforcing the need for continued conformity after approval.
An applicability review is especially useful when:
Resolving these points before testing can prevent the wrong samples, wrong standards or wrong model family from being used for the application.
For inverter categories covered by the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, conformity with the applicable Indian Standards and BIS Scheme-II certification is required, subject to the provisions and any current temporary implementation measures.
A PV power inverter currently maps to IS 16221 Part 2 together with IS/IEC 61683. A utility-interconnected PV inverter additionally maps to IS 16169:2019 and IS 17980:2022 under the notified framework.
Not necessarily. The current notified standard combination contains additional standards according to inverter category.
It is more accurate to describe the current rule as a temporary implementation arrangement, not a permanent exemption. MNRE has extended implementation for qualifying SPV inverters above 200 kW until 31 December 2026 or further orders, whichever is earlier, under specified self-certification conditions.
An IEC certificate alone should not generally be treated as a replacement for the notified BIS route. The current >200 kW arrangement specifically recognizes corresponding IEC certificates as part of a temporary conditional framework, but that provision has a defined scope and duration.
For the solar inverter categories covered by the 2025 Order, the specified route is Scheme-II. A foreign manufacturer may additionally require an Authorized Indian Representative under CRS requirements where it does not have the qualifying Indian presence.
Model inclusion depends on the applicable series/model-grouping provisions and technical similarity. BIS’s implementation guidance refers to testing lead models according to the applicable MNRE series guidelines, so grouping should be assessed before testing.
Scheme-II applications rely on the prescribed testing route, and applicants should use laboratories recognized by BIS for the relevant standard and scope. The current laboratory scope should be verified before sample submission.
Green Permits supports Indian and foreign manufacturers with:
The objective is to confirm the compliance route before the business commits to testing, imports or a product-launch timeline.
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