REGULATORY COMPLIANCE BULLETIN NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2025
NCCS
NCCS Announced Revised Fee Structure for Security Report Evaluation
The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) has recently released a new notification regarding the evaluation fees for test reports. As part of ongoing initiatives to promote the Ease of Doing Business, the competent authority has reduced the Security Test Report Evaluation Fee.
- Effective from: 01st August 2025
- Revised Evaluation Fee Structure:
| Group of Equipment | Security Test Report Evaluation Fee (in ₹) |
| A | 10,000 |
| B | 20,000 |
| C | 30,000 |
| D | 40,000 |
Note: Applications submitted by Government R&D institutes, such as CDOT and CDAC, will be fully exempt from this fee until March 31, 2028.
This revision is a significant step towards enhancing regulatory efficiency and reducing the compliance burden for stakeholders across the ecosystem.
The official notification issued by the government can be accessed from here: Evaluation fees for test reports
Security Certification Process for Highly Specialised Equipment (HSE)
In line with efforts to streamline telecom equipment certification, the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) has issued the following clarifications regarding HSE devices:
- Classification Criteria: Equipment requiring specialised security testing will follow the latest guidelines issued by TEC. Refer to Notification No. 6-6/2024-TC/TEC dated 02.06.2025 or you can download it from here.
- Provisional Security Certificate (ER → ER+ITSAR): Applicants with a provisional ER certificate can apply for a provisional security certificate via the “Upgrade ER to ER+ITSAR” flow on the MTCTE portal by selecting certificate type as Provisional.
- Fresh Application for ER+ITSAR (Provisional): Where both ER (Provisional) and ITSAR (Provisional) are required, applicants may submit a fresh ER+ITSAR application for provisional certification.
- Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC): In both (2,3) cases above, applicants must submit an SDoC to the applicable ITSAR via the MTCTE portal. The required format can be accessed from here.
- Fee & Validity:
1. No Security Evaluation Fee will be charged for provisional certificates.
2. Validity of provisional certificate: 2 years or the balance validity of the ER provisional certificate — whichever is lesser.
The official notification issued by the government can be accessed from here: Clarifications regarding HSE devices
Amendment to “Known Malware and Backdoor Check” Requirement in ITSARs
In continuation of regulatory reforms to streamline the security certification process, the clause on “Known Malware and Backdoor Check” in all published ITSARs has been amended with immediate effect until further order.
OEM shall submit a Self-Declaration of Conformity stating that:
- The product is free from all known malware as per the malware signature database prescribed by NCCS.
- The product is free from backdoors.
This amendment simplifies the compliance process while maintaining essential security assurances for telecom products.
The official notification issued by the government can be accessed from here: Clause on “Known Malware and Backdoor Check”
Relaxation for EoS/EoL Declared Products under Security Certification
The NCCS has announced a relaxation in security certification requirements for telecom products declared as End of Sale (EoS) or End of Life (EoL), aiming to simplify compliance for legacy equipment.
Previously, while such products were exempted from initial security testing if EoS was declared prior to the ITSAR enforcement date (as per NCCS/HQ/COMSEC/2023-24/III dated 19.09.2024), submission of internal test reports was still required in case of updates or modifications. This requirement has now been removed.
What’s New:
- OEMs can now apply for a Provisional Security Certificate using the “Upgrade ER to ER+ITSAR” flow in the MTCTE portal.
- Instead of internal test reports, the applicant must: Declare EoS/EoL dates, and submit a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) to the applicable ITSAR.
No Security Report Evaluation Fee will apply.
Validity: Up to 5 years, or until residual validity of ER certificate, or EoL date — whichever is earlier.
This move simplifies security compliance for discontinued product lines while ensuring transparency and baseline security assurance.
The official notification issued by the government can be accessed from here: Certification requirements for telecom products declared as EoS or EoL
BIS-CRS
BIS Releases IS 16242:2025 – Updated Standard for Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS)
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has revised the existing UPS standard. The current standard IS 16242 (Part 1):2014 / IEC 62040-1:2008 has been revised and replaced by IS 16242 (Part 1):2025 / IEC 62040-1:2017
Important Points:
- Till 19 November 2025: Both the old and new standards will be accepted.
- After 20 November 2025: Only the new standard (IS 16242:2025) will be valid. Licenses issued under the old standard will become invalid.
Key Changes in the New Standard (IS 16242:2025)
- Added definition for movable UPS and requirement for permanently connected UPS.
- Included extra working voltages in the creepage distance test.
- New tests added:
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- Steady force test
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- Touch current measurement
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- Handles/manual controls
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- Temperature rise test
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- Capacitor discharge test for a permanently connected UPS
- New test clauses for:
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- Short-time withstand current
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- Unsynchronised load transfer
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- Loss of coolant
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- Dry heat and damp heat
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- Hydrostatic pressure
- Changes to existing test methods:
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- Flammability of enclosure materials
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- Capacitor discharge test for Type B UPS
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- Input current test
Instructions for Existing License Holders:
- Submit complete BIS-recognised test reports for all lead models tested under the new standard.
- Provide an undertaking confirming compliance with other models under your license.
Instructions for New Applicants:
- If samples or test reports were already submitted, you can continue with the old standard.
- New applications can be based on either the old or new standard—but:
- Processing under the old standard is only allowed until 19 November 2025.
- You must declare that you will shift to the new standard before the deadline.
- After this date, no new licenses will be issued under the old standard.
Note: Any changes to existing license scopes will follow the same rule. These guidelines are effective immediately.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry: Updated Standard for UPS
BIS Announces Key Changes to IS 16270:2023: Guidelines for Solar Battery Compliance
The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) has issued Amendment No. 1 to IS 16270:2023 for Secondary cells and batteries used in solar photovoltaic (PV) applications, with changes taking effect by December 8, 2025.
Some Important changes are highlighted in the table below with respective action-
| S No. | Page and Clause No. | Changes | Action Required |
| 1 | Page 1, clause 1 | Scope of the standard has been modified-
The standard applies to all types of secondary cells and batteries used in solar photovoltaic off-grid applications. |
No action required |
| 2 | Page 7, clause 8.4.3.2, para 2 | Typographical change | No action required |
| 3 | Page 8, clause 8.4.4, point b | Discharge current for lithium batteries has been added. For lithium batteries, discharge is to be carried out at 0.2 It current.
For lithium batteries and other batteries, the end voltages are defined by the battery manufacturer |
Action required by licensees having lithium batteries in the scope of the licence. |
| 4 | Page 9, Table 6 | Tests in Table 6 apply to Batteries. | Action required by licensees having secondary cells in the scope of the licence. |
The guidelines for the implementation of the amendment are as follows:
For Existing Licensees:
- The existing licensees shall ensure conformance to Amendment No. 1 IS 16270: 2023 by 8 December 2025.
- Licencees must issue a new test report(s) for all lead models by third-party labs.
- Licences must provide an undertaking stating that the requirements of IS 16270: 2023 have been implemented in other existing series model(s) which are in the scope of the licence.
For New Applicants:
- Existing Applications where a sample has been submitted in the Laboratory/Test Report has been issued by the Laboratory, may be processed without Amendment.
- Applications that are recorded henceforth till December 8, 2025, may be processed with or without amendment. Processing of Applications without amendment shall be permitted only up to December 8, 2025. For such cases, the applicant shall give a declaration that they will implement the amendment by December 8, 2025.
- After December 8, 2025, all new licenses require full compliance with the amendment.
For License Scope Changes
- Same rules as new applicants.
- Only applications submitted before the compliance date or December 8, 2025 (whichever is earlier) can proceed without the amendment.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry: Guidelines for implementation of Amendment No 1 to IS 16270: 2023
BIS – ISI
BIS (Quality Control) Amendment Order for Cross Recessed Screws
This order requires that all goods/articles mentioned in the order must comply with their respective Indian Standard before the new notified implementation date to sell, import or distribute into the Indian market. The products must display the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards, in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
New Date of Implementation:
- For General (Large Enterprises) – 1st November 2025
- For Small Enterprises – 1st February 2026
- For Micro Enterprises – 1st May 2026
Exemptions under this order:
- Export Goods – Products manufactured in India exclusively for export are exempt from the scope of this Order.
- Imports as Part of Assemblies – Cross recessed screws imported as a part of any finished goods, sub-assembly, or component are not covered under this Order.
- Imports for Export Manufacturing – Bearings imported for making export products are exempted.
- R&D Exemption – Manufacturers of cross recessed screws are allowed to import up to two hundred kilograms per year for research and development purposes, provided they are not sold, are scrapped after use, and year-wise records are maintained.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry from here: Cross recessed screws QCO
BIS (Quality Control) Amendment Order for H acid and Vinyl Sulphone
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has introduced the (Quality Control) Amendment Order H acid and Vinyl Sulphone. The implementation date for these chemicals has been extended to 13th May 2026, from the earlier implementation date of 13th August 2025.
The following goods/articles are covered under this order:
| Sr. No. | Goods/Articles | Indian Standard | Implementation Date |
| 1. | H Acid | IS 8637:2020 | 13th May 2026 |
| 2. | Vinyl Sulphone | IS 18340: 2023 |
This order requires that all goods/articles mentioned in the order must comply with their respective Indian Standard before the new notified implementation date to sell, import or distribute into the Indian Market.
The products must display the Standard Mark under a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards, in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry: Quality Control Amendment Order for H acid and Vinyl Sulphone
BEE
BEE Issues Mandatory Update Directive for S&L Registered Permittees
To align with India’s energy-saving goals and ensure effective implementation of the Standards & Labeling (S&L) Program, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), through its latest notification dated 30th July 2025, has directed all manufacturers/permittees registered under the S&L scheme to update the list of authorised distributors, dealers, retailers, and sellers appointed to sell their labelled products.
Attached is the BEE prescribed format for your reference, which is required to be updated periodically.
Key Points:
- The list must be updated by 30th April of each year.
- Non-compliance may lead to suitable action by the Bureau.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry: Update Directive for S&L Registered Permittees
LPG Stoves under BEE’s Mandatory Regime
In light of recent geopolitical developments, India has significantly intensified its focus on energy security. As part of this effort, the Ministry of Power, in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), has brought Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Stoves under the Mandatory Regime of BEE’s Standard and Labelling (S&L) Scheme.
Note: Domestic LPG Stoves already require ISI certification, and now BEE certification will also be mandatory.
Scope Coverage: A Domestic Gas Stove refers to a domestic gas-burning appliance with metallic bodies, with or without a toughened glass top, consisting of:
- Single or multiple burners
- Injector jets
- Gas taps
- Burner pan supports
- Piping and fittings intended for use with LPG at 30 gf/cm² gas inlet pressure
Scope Excludes: Pressure regulators
Efficiency will be decided by the parameter named ‘Thermal efficiency’.
The effective date for the regulation will be January 1, 2026.
For more information, you can refer to the official notification issued by the ministry: LPG Stoves under the Mandatory Regime of BEE
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