Introduction
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) compliance framework for electronics and IT hardware products continues to expand as India strengthens its regulatory ecosystem for product safety and quality control. In the latest development, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has introduced a new amendment under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, related to Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).
As India continues increasing regulatory oversight on electronic and IT hardware products, businesses dealing with HDDs and storage devices should start evaluating their compliance obligations, certification timelines, testing requirements, and documentation readiness well before the enforcement date.
Key Highlights of the BIS CRS Update for Standalone HDDs
- Issued By: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
- Notification Date: 5 May 2026
- Update: BIS CRS scope expanded for Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
- Applies To: HDD manufacturers, importers, OEM brands, and storage device suppliers
- Applicable Standard: IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010
- Certification Scheme: BIS CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme)
- Key Change: Additional standalone HDD categories may require BIS compliance
- Effective Date: 5 November 2026
What Is the Latest BIS CRS Update for Standalone HDDs?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a new amendment under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, covering Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).
Through notification S.O. 2204(E) dated 5 May 2026, the government has revised the product category listed under Serial No. 50 of the CRO Order to include:
Standalone Hard Disk Drives
The applicable Indian Standard for this category is:
- IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010
- Information Technology Equipment – Safety – General Requirements
This amendment significantly expands the BIS CRS compliance scope for HDD-related products. Previously, compliance requirements were mainly associated with USB-type external hard disk drives. With this update, additional standalone HDD categories may now fall under mandatory BIS CRS registration requirements.
The move reflects the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen electronics safety standards, improve product quality, and enhance regulatory oversight for IT and electronic products entering the Indian market.
Manufacturers, importers, OEM brands, and suppliers dealing with HDD products should assess whether their products are covered under the revised scope and begin preparing for BIS CRS compliance well before the enforcement date.
Why This Update Is Important for Manufacturers & Importers
The latest BIS CRS update for Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) is an important regulatory development for businesses operating in the electronics, IT hardware, and storage device industry. As India continues expanding its electronics compliance ecosystem, manufacturers and importers are expected to pay closer attention to product safety standards, BIS registration requirements, and regulatory obligations before selling products in the Indian market.
This amendment may impact a wide range of businesses
- HDD manufacturers
- OEM brands
- Importers and distributors
- Enterprise storage solution providers
- Data center infrastructure companies
- Surveillance storage device suppliers
The notification is particularly significant as India continues to be one of the fastest-growing markets for electronics and IT hardware products. With increasing demand for storage devices, cloud infrastructure, surveillance systems, and enterprise hardware, regulatory authorities are expanding compliance oversight across multiple product categories.
Manufacturers and importers that do not prepare in advance may face challenges such as:
- Shipment delays
- Customs clearance issues
- Product launch postponements
- Import restrictions
- Market access disruptions
Businesses involved in HDD manufacturing, importing, or distribution should therefore begin evaluating their product applicability and compliance readiness well before the enforcement date. Early preparation can help companies avoid last-minute compliance pressure and ensure smoother market operations in the future.
Which HDD Products May Be Covered?
According to the latest MeitY notification, the BIS CRS compliance scope has been expanded for “Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).” While the notification does not provide an exhaustive product list, several HDD categories may potentially fall under the updated compliance requirements.
Products that may be covered under the revised BIS CRS scope
- Internal Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
- SATA HDDs
- SAS HDDs
- Enterprise Storage Drives
- NAS Storage HDDs
- Surveillance HDDs
- Standalone Storage Devices
- Server Storage HDDs
This update is particularly important for manufacturers, importers, OEM brands, and suppliers involved in enterprise storage solutions, surveillance systems, networking equipment, and IT hardware products.
As demand for data centers, cloud infrastructure, enterprise servers, and surveillance technology continues to grow, regulatory authorities are increasing compliance oversight for HDD-related products entering the Indian market.
Businesses should review their product specifications, storage device categories, and intended applications to determine whether their products fall within the updated BIS CRS scope. Early compliance planning can help avoid certification delays and operational disruptions in the future.
What About USB External Hard Disk Drives?
One of the key clarifications in the latest MeitY notification concerns USB-type External Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).
According to the notification, USB External HDDs will continue to be covered under the existing BIS CRS provisions. Therefore, there is no major change in the compliance requirements already applicable to these products.
The amendment primarily expands the compliance scope for other standalone HDD categories. Rather than altering existing requirements for USB external HDDs, it extends regulatory coverage to additional HDD products that may now fall under BIS CRS compliance.
This clarification is particularly relevant for manufacturers, importers, and OEM brands that already hold BIS CRS registrations for USB external hard drives. Such businesses should continue ensuring compliance with applicable BIS standards, testing requirements, and labeling obligations.
Meanwhile, companies dealing with other standalone HDD products should carefully assess whether their products are covered under the revised compliance scope and prepare for any applicable BIS CRS requirements.
Effective Date of the New BIS CRS Requirements
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced that the new BIS CRS compliance requirements for other standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) will become effective from:
5 November 2026 → Implementation date of standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
The implementation timeline allows manufacturers, importers, OEM brands, and storage device suppliers sufficient time to evaluate compliance requirements and initiate the BIS CRS registration process before the new requirements become effective.
- Product testing
- Technical documentation preparation
- BIS-recognized laboratory approvals
- Product labeling compliance
- Registration processing
To avoid last-minute challenges, businesses should begin their compliance planning well before the effective date.
Early preparation is particularly important for foreign manufacturers and importers supplying HDD products to India, as certification delays can affect shipments, customs clearance, and product availability.
Companies dealing with standalone HDD products should therefore evaluate product applicability, testing requirements, and documentation readiness at an early stage to ensure smooth compliance before the new BIS CRS requirements take effect.
Compliance Requirements for Standalone HDDs
With the expansion of the BIS CRS compliance scope for Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), manufacturers and importers may be required to meet additional regulatory requirements before selling or importing applicable products in India.
Under the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), products covered under the MeitY CRO Order must generally comply with the applicable Indian Standards and registration requirements before they can be marketed or imported into the country.
For standalone HDD products, the applicable standard mentioned in the notification is:
- IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010
- Information Technology Equipment – Safety – General Requirements
Businesses may need to complete the following compliance requirements:
- BIS CRS Registration
- Product testing from BIS-recognized laboratories
- Technical documentation preparation
- Product labeling and marking compliance
- Test report submission
- Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) arrangement for foreign manufacturers
The BIS CRS process is especially important for foreign manufacturers exporting HDD products to India, as products falling under mandatory compliance categories may not be imported or sold without proper BIS registration.
Businesses should also ensure that product specifications, labeling details, technical files, and testing documents are properly aligned with BIS and MeitY compliance requirements to avoid regulatory issues during the registration process.
As compliance regulations continue expanding across the electronics and IT hardware industry, early planning and proper documentation management can help businesses achieve smoother certification and market access.
Conclusion
As the new compliance requirements for other standalone HDDs will become applicable from 5 November 2026, early preparation can help businesses avoid shipment delays, customs clearance issues, product launch disruptions, and other operational risks associated with non-compliance.
With India electronics compliance ecosystem continuing to evolve, staying updated with BIS and MeitY regulatory notifications has become increasingly important for businesses operating in the electronics and IT hardware sector. Proper compliance planning and timely BIS CRS registration can help companies ensure smoother market access and long-term business continuity.
Offical Notification For Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued this amendment through notification S.O. 2204(E) dated 5 May 2026 under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Request Service Today!
Ready to get certified or need expert compliance support? Fill out the form below and our team at SS Global Services will connect with you shortly.
We offer fast, reliable, and hassle-free assistance for all BIS and regulatory certification needs.