Recently, the 76th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was celebrated in New Delhi and various initiatives were launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
Various Initiatives launched were:-
- Launch of Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022- 27: Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022 – 27, is the document to serve as a strong foundation for standardization to meet the emerging technologies and concerns of sustainability and climate change. SNAP 2022 – 27 will play an important role in steering the national standardization efforts which would lead to standards becoming a key enabler of India’s economic aspirations. The implementation of key recommendations and strategies of the document will be pivotal in enriching and strengthening “Quality Culture” in the Nation.
- Launch of Revision Exercise of National Building Code of India (NBC 2016): BIS, through its concerned technical committee, namely, National Building Code Sectional Committee, CED 46 is initiating the Exercise of Revision National Building Code of India to include sustainable city planning norms; new and sustainable building materials, design concepts, construction technologies, and building and plumbing services and to deal with the various challenges being posed in the current scenario, without compromising on the safety of the occupants and assets in buildings and the built environment.
- Launch of Revised National Electrical Code of India 2023: The National Electrical Code of India 2023 (NEC 2023), a comprehensive electrical installations Code prepared by BIS, is a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the Electrical Installations practices across the country. India’s first National Electrical Code was formulated in the year 1985 and was subsequently revised in the year 2011. The current revision includes the requirements of electrical installation as per the latest International best practices. Some of the important new Chapters added in the revised NEC are requirements related to Electrical installations at special locations like Hospitals, Community facilities, Hotels, Swimming Pools, Amusement Parks, Supplies for Electric vehicles, multi-storied buildings, etc.
- Launch of Training Courses on the National Building Code of India 2016 and National Electrical Code of India: Considering the importance of the Codes in ensuring the quality and safety of the buildings, related infrastructure and spreading awareness about Electrical Safety, and ensuring proper interpretation of the standard, it is important that various stakeholders contributing to building planning, design, construction and operation, and maintenance are well aware of the provisions of NBC 2016 and NEC 2023 for judicious implementation of the provisions and intent of the Code. BIS through its training arm, the National Institute of Training for Standardization (NITS) has designed training courses for national capacity building which were also launched on the occasion.
- Standards Clubs in Schools: Through Standards Clubs, BIS aims to expose science students of class 9th and above to the concepts of Quality and Standardization through student-centric activities. BIS has to date established over 4000 Standards Clubs across India and upon realizing the potential and success of the novel endeavor, the target is ambitiously enhanced to creating 10,000 clubs by the end of 2022-23.
About BIS:-
- It has been established for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking, and quality certification of goods and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- It was established by the BIS Act, of 1986 which came into effect in December 1986. It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
- A new BIS Act 2016 has been brought into force with effect from October 2017.
- The Act establishes the BIS as the National Standards Body of India.
