Law Updates

Subject

Summary: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified the amendments to several Indian Standards under Rule 15(1) of the BIS Rules, 2018. The notification was published in the Gazette of India on 30 May, 2026 and establishes Amendment No.1 to five important standards covering electrical switches and battery safety requirements. The amended standards also include: IS 3854:2023 for switches used in domestic and similar applications. IS 6303 (Part 3):2025 relating to watch batteries. IS 6303 (Part 4):2023 concerning the safety of lithium batteries.  IS 6303 (Part 5):2023 covering batteries with aqueous electrolytes, and  IS 14257:2019 for lead-acid storage batteries used in motor vehicles. The amendments came into effect on 21 May 2026. BIS has also provided a transition period, allowing the existing versions of these standards to remain in force until 20 November 2026. After this date, manufacturers and stakeholders will be required to comply with the amended standards. The notification is also expected to strengthen the product quality, safety, and performance requirements across the electrical and battery manufacturing sectors while ensuring alignment with the updated technical specifications.

Subject

Summary: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018. The notification was published on 21 May, 2026 and also invites objections or suggestions from the stakeholders within 60 days.  Under the proposed amendments, FSSAI has also expanded the list of educational qualifications eligible for food safety auditors. The revised list also includes degrees related to:  Food Technology  Food Engineering Biotechnology Agriculture Veterinary Science Public Health Microbiology  Medicine and other related disciplines from recognized universities or institutions.  The draft also mandates successful completion of an accredited Lead Auditor course in Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000). Additionally, auditors must possess at least two years of work experience in the food sector and should have conducted a minimum of ten audits, including internal or third-party audits.  These amendments aim to strengthen food safety auditing standards and ensure better compliance within the food industry.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The amendment was notified on 25 May, 2026 and came into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.  Under these revised provisions, households or individuals who already hold a domestic LPG connection and subsequently obtain a Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connection will no longer be permitted to continue availing the LPG cylinder refills immediately after obtaining the PNG access. Such consumers must, within 30 days of receiving a PNG connection, either apply for termination of their LPG connection or obtain a transfer voucher for future LPG use in a non-PNG area.  Also, the amendment seeks to eliminate duplication of subsidized fuel access, expedite domestic fuel distribution, and encourage broader urban adoption of PNG infrastructure. Additionally, it is anticipated that the action will increase regulatory control and enhance resource allocation in the domestic energy industry.

Subject

Summary: In accordance with Rule 15(1) of the Bureau of Indian Standards Rules, 2018, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has revised the withdrawal dates of some Indian Standards that were previously announced in the Indian Gazette in a corrigendum dated 15 May, 2026.  Also, the corrigendum modifies all earlier notices on the implementation and withdrawal schedules of particular standards that were sent out in October 2024, April 2025, and November 2025. The withdrawal date specified in the Serial Numbers 02 and 05 of the schedules has been extended from April 8, 2026, to October 8, 2026, in accordance with the updated notification.  Further, for Serial Number 04, the withdrawal date has been revised from 08 April 2026 to 24 September, 2026. The extension may also provide additional transition time for manufacturers, industries, and stakeholders to align with the updated BIS standards (Bureau of Indian Standards) and compliance requirements. The corrigendum also reflects the BIS’s continued efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of the revised quality and regulatory standards across all sectors in India.

Subject

Summary: India's Ministry of Communications has officially released 8 new and updated standards for telecom equipment across the country. These revised rules were issued under the Telecommunication Act, 2023, using powers granted by Section 19, read with Rule 5 of the Telecommunications Framework to Notify Standards, Conformity Assessment and Certification Rules, 2025. The standards apply from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. The 8 telecom equipment and systems covered under this notification are: LAN Switch, Firewall System, Element Management System for Next Generation Networks, Network Management System, Signalling Transfer Point, Signalling Gateway, Trunk Media Gateway, and Fraud Management and Control Centre. Each standard carries a unique TEC number for easy identification and tracking. These updated standards are designed to make sure that internet and telephone networks running across India stay fast, secure, and fully protected from fraud. Companies that make or supply telecom equipment in India must now follow these revised guidelines. This move shows the government's strong push toward building a more reliable and future-ready telecom network for every citizen of the country.

Subject

Summary: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which operates under the Department of Consumer Affairs, issued a corrigendum on 15 May 2026, amending earlier notifications that were published in the Gazette of India under the Bureau of Indian Standards, BIS Rules, 2018. The amendment also revises the withdrawal date mentioned in earlier BIS notifications bearing reference numbers HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS (1088) dated 14 November 2024 and HQ-PUB-BIS (1312) dated 14 August 2025. As per the corrigendum, the date specified in Serial Number 06, Column (5) of the schedule has been changed from 12 February 2026 to 12 August 2026.  The extension also provides industries and stakeholders additional time to transition and comply with the updated Indian Standards before the earlier standards are formally withdrawn. The move is also expected to ease compliance challenges and ensure smoother implementation of revised quality and regulatory requirements. BIS issued the corrigendum in exercise of its powers under Rule 15(1) of the BIS Rules, 2018.