Centre urges the use of BIS certified helmets to warn curbside sales of unqualified equipment
In a big step towards road safety, the coalition government on Saturday called on consumers across the country to use helmets certified by the Bureau of Standards (BIS).
The Department of Consumer Affairs also calls for strict implementation of the manufacturing or sale of helmets without BIS certification.
India has over 210 million two-wheelers on the road, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, wearing a helmet is mandatory, but its effectiveness depends on quality. A substandard helmet impairs protection and violates its purpose.
To address this issue, quality control orders have been in effect since 2021, and all two-wheeler riders have certified ISI-marked helmets according to BIS standards (IS 4151: 2015).
“As of June 2025, there were 176 manufacturers in India holding valid BIS protective helmet licenses,” the ministry said.
It added: “The department has observed that many helmets sold on the curb are lacking mandatory BIS certification, posing a significant risk to consumers and the deaths of many road accidents. Therefore, it is urgent to address this directly.”
To implement quality standards, BIS conducts regular factory and market surveillance. In the last fiscal year, it tested more than 500 helmet samples and conducted more than 30 search operations for abuse of BIS standard markings.
“In a Delhi operation, more than 2,500 non-compliant helmets were seized from nine manufacturers with expired or cancelled licenses.
“Similar actions were taken at 17 retail and curbside locations, resulting in about 500 substandard helmet seizures, and legal proceedings are underway,” the ministry said.
Additionally, BIS has added a provision on the BIS Care app and the BIS portal to check if the helmet manufacturer has been licensed and also allows users to complain about the BIS Care app.
As part of the National Consumer Awareness Initiative, BIS organized a Quality Connection campaign where “Manak Mitra” volunteers interact directly with consumers to provide information about mandatory certification of helmets and other products.
