BIS Amendments 2026: IS 10153, 12488, 17526 & 18573

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified amendments to four Indian Standards covering fly ash utilisation, haulage rope cappels, domestic stainless steel vacuum flasks and bottles and cold-formed welded carbon steel hollow sections.

The notification is dated 31 August 2026 and has been issued under sub-rule (1) of Rule 15 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018. BIS records 25 August 2026 as the date on which all four amendments were established. At the same time, the versions of these standards without the respective amendments can continue to remain in force until 24 February 2027.

For businesses, the immediate issue is not simply that four standards have changed. The more practical question is whether any of these standards are already being used in product specifications, testing documents, purchase orders, technical drawings, quality manuals or certification records.

BIS Notification at a Glance

The Gazette is mainly a formal notification of the amendments and their transition dates. It does not reproduce the detailed technical text of the amendments.

What Has BIS Changed?

BIS has not introduced four completely new standards through this notification. Instead, it has amended four standards that were already in existence.

The notification covers the following:

These details appear in the schedule to the notification.

What is not available in the Gazette is equally important. It does not explain which individual clauses have changed, what technical values have been revised, or whether a particular testing method or product requirement has been altered. For that level of detail, businesses need the actual amendment issued against the relevant Indian Standard.

IS 10153:2021- Utilization of Fly Ash Guidelines

The first amendment relates to IS 10153:2021, Utilization of Fly Ash Guidelines (First Revision).

BIS has established Amendment No. 1, August 2026 to this standard. The amendment was established on 25 August 2026, while IS 10153:2021 without the amendment can remain in force until 24 February 2027.

This standard may be relevant to businesses and technical teams dealing with fly ash utilisation and related construction or infrastructure activities.

Companies using IS 10153 in project documents, material specifications, procurement conditions or quality procedures should first obtain Amendment No. 1 and check what has actually changed.

The Gazette itself does not state whether the amendment changes any technical limit, utilisation condition, test requirement or other specification.

IS 12488:2023- Haulage Rope Cappels Specification

The second standard covered is IS 12488:2023, Haulage Rope Cappels: Specification (First Revision).

It has received Amendment No. 1, August 2026. BIS records the amendment as established on 25 August 2026, with the standard without the amendment remaining in force up to 24 February 2027.

This may matter to businesses working with haulage systems, mining equipment, mechanical equipment and related industrial procurement.

For these businesses, the sensible approach is to check whether IS 12488:2023 appears in equipment specifications, supplier documents, drawings, inspection plans or purchase requirements.

The notification does not give the technical contents of Amendment No. 1, so no revised material requirement, dimension, performance parameter or testing condition should be assumed from this Gazette alone.

IS 17526:2021- Domestic Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask / Bottle Specification

BIS has also amended IS 17526:2021, Domestic Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask / Bottle Specification.

The change is identified as Amendment No. 3, August 2026. It was established on 25 August 2026, and the version of IS 17526:2021 without Amendment No. 3 remains in force until 24 February 2027.

This standard is particularly relevant for manufacturers and suppliers dealing with domestic stainless steel vacuum flasks and bottles.

Product-development teams, quality managers and testing teams may need to check whether the amendment affects specifications currently used by the business.

However, the Gazette does not tell us whether Amendment No. 3 changes insulation performance, material conditions, dimensions, testing methods, marking requirements or any other technical parameter. Those details must be checked in the official amendment text.

IS 18573:2024- Carbon Steel Square and Rectangular Hollow Sections

The fourth standard is IS 18573:2024, Cold Formed Welded Carbon Steel Square and Rectangular Hollow Sections for Mechanical, General Engineering and Decorative Purposes Specification.

BIS has established Amendment No. 2, August 2026 to this standard. The amendment took the same establishment date of 25 August 2026, while the standard without Amendment No. 2 remains in force until 24 February 2027.

This may require attention from manufacturers of hollow sections, steel processors, fabricators, engineering companies and buyers whose specifications refer to IS 18573:2024.

An engineering company, for instance, may have IS 18573 written into drawings or purchasing specifications. The amendment means those references should be checked against the current BIS document rather than automatically assuming that the technical requirements remain unchanged.

Why Is 24 February 2027 Important?

24 February 2027 is an important date from a business-readiness perspective. BIS states that the standards without their respective amendments will remain in force until this date. This gives businesses time to understand the amendments and review whether their existing compliance documents and processes need to be updated.

The date should not be treated as a BIS licence-renewal or application deadline. The notification does not require businesses to submit any specific form by 24 February 2027. Instead, companies should focus on using the transition period to:

• Review quality manuals: Check whether the applicable amendments are reflected in existing documents.
• Update technical documents: Review drawings, product specifications and inspection procedures for outdated references.
• Check testing practices: Confirm that testing and quality-control procedures match the applicable requirements.
• Review purchase orders: Make sure standard references used with suppliers reflect the relevant version.
• Identify compliance gaps: Check if any internal processes are still based on the old version of the standard.

For example, a quality manual may only mention “IS 17526:2021” and not say whether Amendment No. 3 has been added. Reviewing these references before the transition period ends can help avoid confusion about which version of the requirements should be followed.

Can Businesses Continue With the Earlier Version Until 24 February 2027?

The Gazette states that the standards without the relevant amendments will remain in force until 24 February 2027, providing businesses with a defined transition period. However, this should not be interpreted as a blanket permission to use the earlier version in every situation. A tender, customer specification, commercial contract or separate mandatory certification requirement may prescribe a different version or compliance condition. Businesses should, therefore, check the BIS transition provision along with the specific document or requirement under which the standard is being followed.

Which Businesses Should Pay Attention to These BIS Amendments?

The amendments cover four different standards and industries, so businesses should first identify whether any of these standards are relevant to their products or operations:

• IS 10153: Businesses involved in fly ash and related applications.
• IS 12488: Manufacturers and businesses dealing with haulage equipment.
• IS 17526: Manufacturers of stainless steel vacuum flasks and bottles.
• IS 18573: Steel hollow-section manufacturers and engineering businesses.

The impact may also extend beyond the manufacturing team. Quality teams may refer to these standards in testing procedures, procurement teams in purchase specifications, and engineering teams in drawings or technical documents. Suppliers may also have declared compliance against an earlier version.

The key question for businesses is simple: Does the company currently rely on any of these four standards in its product, technical or commercial documentation? If yes, the relevant amendment should be reviewed before the transition period ends.

What Does This Mean for Manufacturers?

Manufacturers should begin by checking where the affected standard appears in their existing system. That may include a product specification, bill of materials, testing plan, supplier requirement, quality document or technical drawing.

Once the relevant reference is identified, the actual amendment can be compared against the current manufacturing or quality practice.

There is no value in changing a process based purely on the Gazette summary. The technical decision should come only after reviewing the actual amendment.

This is especially relevant for manufacturers already operating under a BIS certification requirement. In such cases, the company may need to understand whether the amendment has any effect on its existing certification, testing or quality-control arrangements.

What Should Quality and Testing Teams Check?

Quality teams should not assume that an old test plan is still aligned simply because the basic IS number has stayed the same. An amendment can change part of an existing standard without changing the original standard number.

Teams using any of these standards may therefore want to check test references, inspection formats, quality manuals, supplier certificates and internal specifications.

The Gazette itself does not identify any new test method or test limit. Those details have to come from the official amendment.

Where testing is connected with a mandatory BIS certification process, businesses may also need BIS testing support or technical guidance on how the amended standard should be handled within the applicable certification scheme.

What Should Procurement Teams Check?

Procurement departments often carry older technical references for years because they are copied from earlier purchase orders, tenders or vendor specifications.

That creates a practical risk when a standard is amended.

A purchase order for a steel product may continue referring to IS 18573:2024 without identifying the applicable amendment. A supplier of vacuum flasks may similarly be working from an earlier technical specification.

Procurement teams should therefore check:

• Whether one of the four IS numbers is mentioned in purchasing documents.
• Whether the document refers to a particular edition or amendment.
• Whether suppliers have been told which version applies.
• Whether a tender or customer specification contains its own requirement on the version of the standard.

Not every existing contract will automatically change because BIS has issued an amendment. The wording of the contract or tender remains important.

Do These BIS Amendments Mean BIS Certification Is Now Mandatory?

No. The notification does not say that every product covered by these four standards has now become subject to compulsory BIS certification.

This distinction is important for businesses.

An Indian Standard sets technical specifications or guidelines for a product, material or activity. An amendment changes part of that standard.

A mandatory BIS certification requirement, on the other hand, normally arises because a separate legal instrument makes compliance compulsory. This may include a Quality Control Order or another binding regulatory requirement.

So, a business should not conclude that it needs an ISI licence simply because BIS has amended an Indian Standard.

The proper question is whether the concerned product is separately covered by a mandatory certification requirement.

A BIS Certification Consultant in India can be useful at this stage because the first task is often not filling an application. It is establishing whether certification is actually required for the product.

Why a BIS Applicability Assessment Matters

Before applying for BIS certification, businesses should first determine whether certification is actually mandatory for their product. A proper BIS applicability assessment reviews the product, applicable Indian Standard, relevant Quality Control Order and certification scheme.

For businesses affected by these four amendments, the assessment should answer two key questions:

1. Does the company use the amended Indian Standard?

Check whether the standard appears in product specifications, testing procedures, drawings, supplier documents or other technical records.

2. Is the product covered by mandatory BIS certification?

The use of an Indian Standard does not, by itself, mean that BIS certification is mandatory. The applicable Quality Control Order and certification scheme also need to be checked.

Answering these questions separately can help businesses avoid unnecessary certification work while also identifying genuine compliance obligations.

Impact on Product Specifications and Quality Documents

An amendment to a technical standard does not automatically mean that every company document needs to be revised. The first step is to identify where the affected standard is currently referenced.

Documents worth reviewing include:

• Product drawings mentioning the relevant IS number
• Raw-material specifications referring to the standard
• Inspection plans containing BIS test requirements
• Testing procedures based on the earlier requirements
• Purchase orders and supplier agreements requiring conformity with the standard

The extent of any change will depend on the specific provisions introduced through the amendment. A technical review should come first, followed by document updates wherever the amendment actually affects the existing requirements.

What Information Does the Gazette Not Give?

There is a clear limit to what can be concluded from this notification. The Gazette confirms the standards affected, amendment numbers, establishment date and transition date. It does not set out the full technical amendments.

It also does not provide:

• Revised test values or test methods.
• New dimensions or tolerances.
• Changes in material composition.
• Sampling procedures.
• BIS certification fees.
• Product testing charges.
• Application documents.
• Certification processing timelines.
• Penalties for non-compliance.
• A declaration that all four standards are under mandatory BIS certification.

These points should be checked separately where they matter to a particular business.

What Should Businesses Do Before 24 February 2027?

A business using one of the four standards does not need to start by changing every document. It should start by understanding whether the amendment actually affects its operations.

A sensible review would begin with identifying where the standard is used. The relevant amendment should then be obtained and sent to the technical or quality team for comparison.

After that, the company can decide whether any product specifications, quality documents, drawings, procurement conditions or testing references need to change.

Where BIS certification already applies, the business should also check whether the amendment affects its certification or testing position.

If mandatory certification has never been assessed, a separate BIS compliance consultant or product compliance services review may be useful.

Practical Risks during the Transition Period

The biggest mistake would be to treat the Gazette as the full technical amendment.

It is not.

Another risk is assuming that 24 February 2027 is a new BIS licence deadline. The notification does not say that either. Businesses should also avoid using old procurement or testing references indefinitely without checking whether the amended version should now be used.

A further risk is mixing up three separate issues: the technical standard, its amendment, and mandatory BIS certification. Each has a different compliance meaning. Keeping those three questions separate makes the review much easier.

What Happens After 24 February 2027?

BIS has clearly stated that 24 February 2027 is the date up to which the standards without the respective amendments will remain in force.

The notification does not go further and prescribe a separate penalty for businesses that fail to review their documentation.

It also does not say that an existing BIS licence will automatically be cancelled on that date.

Any consequence linked to a mandatory product certification scheme would need to be checked against the applicable BIS scheme, Quality Control Order or other legal requirement.

Businesses should therefore avoid attaching consequences to this notification that BIS itself has not stated.

Is the Amendment Helpful or an Extra Burden for Businesses?

There are two sides to this type of change.

Updated standards allow technical requirements to be kept current. For buyers, manufacturers and quality teams, having an updated standard can also create a clearer common reference.

The difficulty lies in the transition.

A manufacturer may have to compare the amendment with its existing specifications. Procurement teams may have to update old references. Quality teams may need to check testing documents. This may be harder for MSMEs because they often have fewer in-house technical resources.

The transition period up to 24 February 2027 gives businesses time to complete that review.

Whether the amendment creates a major operational burden will depend on what the actual technical amendment changes. The Gazette alone does not provide enough information to make that judgement for each of the four standards.

How Corpseed Can Help With BIS Certification and Product Compliance

For businesses dealing with BIS requirements, the main challenge is often identifying what actually applies before starting the certification process.

Corpseed supports manufacturers, importers and product businesses with BIS-related regulatory work through BIS certification services, product compliance services and BIS applicability assessment.

As a BIS Certification Consultant in India, Corpseed can assist businesses in the following areas.

• BIS Applicability Assessment: Before an application is prepared, Corpseed can help check whether a product falls under an applicable Indian Standard and whether a Quality Control Order or other requirement makes BIS certification mandatory.
• BIS Certification Services: Where certification is required, Corpseed can support businesses with the applicable BIS certification process, including application-related and compliance documentation support.
• Quality Control Order Compliance: A QCO can turn compliance with a particular Indian Standard into a mandatory requirement for specified products.

    Corpseed can help businesses review whether a relevant Quality Control Order covers their product and what certification requirement follows from it.

• Product Standard and Amendment Review: Where a product refers to an Indian Standard that has been revised or amended, Corpseed can assist businesses in identifying the applicable standard reference and understanding how it connects with their certification position.
• BIS Testing Support: Some certification processes require product testing under the applicable BIS framework. Corpseed can assist with coordination and documentation where testing is required.
• Technical Compliance Documentation: Product compliance often depends on consistency between the application, product details, manufacturing information, technical documents and testing records.

    Corpseed can support manufacturers in organising these records before or during the BIS certification process.

• Manufacturer Compliance Support: Businesses introducing a regulated product into the Indian market may need support in checking Indian Standards, QCO applicability, testing and certification requirements together rather than treating each one separately.

    This can be particularly useful where a company is unsure whether a newly amended standard changes an existing compliance requirement.

Businesses looking for a BIS Certification Consultant in India can use Corpseed's support to first establish applicability and then move to certification, testing and product-compliance work only where those requirements actually apply.

Key Takeaways

BIS has amended four existing Indian Standards in its notification dated 31 August 2026. The amendments cover IS 10153:2021, IS 12488:2023, IS 17526:2021 and IS 18573:2024. All four amendments were established on 25 August 2026. The standards without the respective amendments will continue to remain in force until 24 February 2027.

Businesses using these standards should obtain the actual amendment text and check whether their technical, testing, procurement or quality documents need attention.

Most importantly, this Gazette should not be read as an automatic requirement for every affected product to obtain BIS certification. Mandatory certification or QCO applicability needs to be checked separately.