BIS Guidelines for Glass Screen Protectors: Licence Requirements Under IS 19348:2025
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued new guidelines for granting licences, registrations, modifications in the scope of licences, and operation of licences for glass screen protectors for smartphones. The guidelines, dated 15 October 2026, describe how to implement the requirements of IS 19348:2025, in view of the amendment to the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
As per the amended Order, ‘Glass Screen Protectors for Smartphones’ has been added as the 66th entry in the Schedule. These products should conform to the concerned Indian Standard and should be marked with the BIS Standard Mark under a licence granted by BIS in accordance with Scheme II of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
The guidelines are expected to provide clarity to manufacturers wanting BIS registration for glass screen protectors for smartphones and to existing licensees for managing their product scope and marking requirements.
1. Applicable Indian Standard and Certification Requirements
The applicable standard for glass screen protectors covered by these guidelines is IS 19348:2025.
As specified in the BIS guidelines, manufacturers must apply for and obtain a licence under Scheme II before using the BIS Standard Mark on covered glass screen protectors.
The key regulatory requirements are:
- Product: Glass Screen Protector for Smartphones.
- Applicable Indian Standard: IS 19348:2025.
- Certification framework: Scheme II of Schedule II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
- Regulatory order: Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, as amended.
- Licensing authority: Bureau of Indian Standards.
Manufacturers should ensure that the product models included in their licence scope comply with the requirements of IS 19348:2025. The BIS guidelines state that the licence must be obtained before the Standard Mark is used on the product.
2. Scope of Products Covered Under the Guidelines
The guidelines apply to glass screen protectors intended for use on smartphones, as defined under Clause 3.3 of IS 19348:2025.
The products may be manufactured:
- With or without a privacy film.
- In nominal or declared dimensions.
- Within the dimensional tolerances specified under Clause 4.1.1 and Table 1 of IS 19348:2025.
Manufacturers must identify and declare the glass screen protector products they intend to manufacture and include within the scope of their BIS licence.
This declaration is important because the licence scope must identify the relevant product, make and model, dimensions, drawing number, and applicability of the privacy film.
3. Procedure for Grant of BIS Licence
Manufacturers seeking a BIS licence for glass screen protectors must follow the applicable Scheme II registration requirements.
The BIS guidelines establish the following key requirements for the grant of a licence.
A. Identification and Declaration of Products
Manufacturers must identify the glass screen protector models intended for smartphone use and declare the products they wish to cover under their licence.
The declared product dimensions must comply with the relevant provisions of IS 19348:2025, including the applicable tolerances.
B. Compliance with the Indian Standard
All models of glass screen protectors covered by the licence must comply with IS 19348:2025.
The guidelines also state that MeitY may formulate series guidelines for the operation of licences granted by BIS through registration, as applicable.
Manufacturers should therefore ensure that the models covered by their licence meet the applicable standard and that any subsequent changes are assessed against the relevant licensing requirements.
C. Sample Submission and Testing
The guidelines specify a sample quantity of 40 pieces for complete testing.
For detailed sampling requirements, manufacturers and testing laboratories may refer to Table 3 in Annex D of IS 19348:2025.
The following information must be declared in the test request:
- Intended device.
- Dimensions, including length, width, and thickness in millimetres.
- Applicability of privacy film — Yes or No.
- Make and model number.
- Product drawing, where applicable.
Accurate declarations help identify the product being tested and support the assessment of the relevant model and its intended scope of coverage.
4. Details to Be Included in the BIS Licence Scope
The BIS guidelines specify the following information for defining the scope of a licence for glass screen protectors.
| Parameter | Required Details |
| Product | Glass Screen Protector for Smartphones |
| Make and Model | Applicable make and model details |
| Dimensions | Length × Width × Thickness, in millimetres, from the declared lower limit up to and including the declared upper limit |
| Drawing Number | Applicable product drawing number |
| Privacy Film | With or Without |
Manufacturers should review these details carefully when preparing declarations and applications to ensure that the intended product coverage is accurately represented.
5. Changes in the Scope of a BIS Licence
The Guidelines also address changes to the scope of the glass screen protector license.
In case of a change in scope, the applicable series guidelines should be consulted and the manufacturer should provide the necessary details of the samples submitted to the laboratory for testing.
The details submitted by the manufacturer should be in accordance with the information required for licensing consideration and include details of the device, dimensions, privacy film application, make and model number, and, where necessary, product drawings.
Manufacturers should evaluate proposed additions or changes to their product range against applicable BIS requirements before concluding that the changed products will be covered under the existing license.
6. Packing and Marking Requirements
Compliance with packing and marking requirements is an important part of operating a BIS licence.
According to the guidelines, packing and marking must comply with Clause 5 of IS 19348:2025. Additional requirements for the BIS Standard Mark and product identification are also specified.
A. BIS Standard Mark
The BIS Standard Mark, also referred to as the CRS Mark in the Guidelines, must be marked on the glass screen protector as per the license document.
The Guidelines also state that if a test certificate is issued, the Standard Mark must also be included on the test certificate.
The Standard Mark may be used only if the marked material complies with the requirements of the applicable specification.
B. Product Identification Through Fog Marking
Each piece of glass screen protector must also be legibly marked using fog marking with the following information:
- Make and Model Number: To serve as the Product Identification Code.
- Source and Year of Manufacture: To identify the source and year of manufacture.
Manufacturers should incorporate these marking requirements into their production and quality-control processes to support product identification and compliance with the licence conditions.
7. Effective Date of the Guidelines
The BIS guidelines dated 15 October 2026 state that they come into force with immediate effect.
The guidelines also clarify that all other provisions of Scheme II and the applicable requirements of IS 19348:2025 remain unchanged.
Manufacturers and other relevant stakeholders should review the guidelines and assess their applicable requirements for licensing, testing, product identification, marking, and changes in licence scope.
8. How Manufacturers Can Prepare for Compliance
Manufacturers of glass screen protectors intended for smartphones can take the following practical steps to prepare for compliance with the applicable BIS requirements.
Step 1: Review the Applicable Standard
Obtain and review IS 19348:2025, paying particular attention to product definitions, dimensional tolerances, sampling, and packing and marking requirements.
Step 2: Identify Products and Models
Prepare a list of the intended devices, makes, models, dimensions, privacy film options, and relevant product drawings.
Step 3: Prepare for Sample Testing
Plan for the sample quantity specified in the BIS guidelines and ensure that the test request contains all required product details.
Step 4: Define the Licence Scope
Check that the declared product information accurately reflects the models and dimensional ranges intended to be covered by the licence.
Step 5: Implement Marking Requirements
Ensure that the BIS Standard Mark is used in accordance with the licence document and that each product carries the required fog marking information.
Step 6: Review Changes to Product Scope
Before introducing additional models or making relevant product changes, assess the applicable requirements for changes in the scope of the licence.
These steps provide a practical starting point. Manufacturers should consult the complete BIS guidelines, the applicable Indian Standard, and the relevant regulatory provisions before proceeding with registration or changes to an existing licence.
Conclusion
The BIS guidelines issued on 15 October 2026 provide specific requirements for the licensing and operation of glass screen protectors for smartphones against IS 19348:2025. These guidelines deal with product declarations, sample testing, scope of licence, changes in scope, packing, and marking.
Manufacturers are advised to be particular about the specified quantity of samples as 40 pieces, product details required in test requests, licence scope definition, and marking requirements for each glass screen protector.
Understanding these would be of benefit to manufactures to organize their documents, prepare their products for tests, and manage the BIS licensing requirements.
Stakeholders are advised to refer to the BIS guidelines and the relevant provisions of the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, as amended.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.Which Indian Standard applies to glass screen protectors for smartphones?
The applicable Indian Standard as specified in the BIS guidelines dated 15 October 2026 is IS 19348:2025.
2.Is a BIS license required for glass screen protectors for smartphones?
Yes. As per the guidelines, all glass screen protectors for smartphones under the amended Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, must conform to IS 19348:2025 and carry the BIS Standard Mark under a BIS license, as per Scheme II.
3.How many samples are required for complete testing?
As per the guidelines, complete testing of the product is required for 40 samples. The sampling plan is given in Table 3 of Annex D of IS 19348:2025.
4.What information must be declared by the test requester?
The manufacturer should declare the intended device, dimensions (in millimeters), whether the product is a privacy film, make and model number, and a product drawing where applicable.
5.Can glass screen protectors be manufactured with a privacy film?
Yes. The guidelines provide for glass screen protectors with/without privacy film for smartphones.
6.What information is to be included in licence scope?
The licence scope shall identify the product, make and model, applicable dimension range, drawing number and whether it is with/without privacy film.
7.What are the marking requirements for glass screen protectors?
The BIS guidelines state that compliance with Clause 5 of IS 19348:2025 is mandatory. Further, the BIS Standard Mark as described in the licence document, along with legible fog marking on each piece showing the make and model number as the Product Identification Code, shall also be printed.
8.What is the effective date of the BIS Guidelines?
The BIS Guidelines, dated 15 October 2026, state that they will come into effect from the date of their issue.
About Aleph INDIA
Aleph INDIA Group offers advisory and regulatory compliance services for the BIS certification and supports product testing and Indian regulatory requirements.
Manufacturers wishing to learn the BIS certification process for glass screen protectors can look at the applicable BIS guidelines and Indian Standard applicable to their product.
