The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 (commonly known as the "OTR Order, 2024") was originally notified on August?28,?2024. It mandated that a wide range of machinery, electrical equipment, and their components—across various categories—must comply with Indian Standards and obtain mandatory BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification to be manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold in India. Non?compliance would result in prohibition from the market.
Given the extensive scope of regulation—impacting tens of thousands of machinery types under hundreds of tariff lines and affecting an estimated 150,000 manufacturers—compliance posed substantial challenges, especially for MSMEs.
Amendment Order 2025: Key Changes
On June?12,?2025, the Ministry of Heavy Industries issued the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Amendment Order, 2025. It came into force on June?13,?2025. The amendment introduced two significant updates:
1. Extension of Compliance Timeline
The original deadline—set at one year from notification (i.e., August?2025)—has been extended. The new mandatory compliance date is September?1,?2026.
This extension provides stakeholders additional time to align processes, secure BIS certification, and implement required safety upgrades.
2. Clarifying the Scope of Applicability
The amendment narrows the immediate focus to machines and electrical equipment listed in the First Schedule. While assemblies, sub-assemblies, and components were originally included under the broader scope, enforcement for these will be introduced separately through future Gazette notifications.
This phased approach aids in managing complexity and technical diversity within product categories.
Legislative Authority & Implementation Mechanism
The amendment is enacted under the authority of Sections?16,?17, and?25 of the BIS Act, 2016. Under the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations (Scheme?X), manufacturers and importers are required to follow specific testing, inspection, and licensing procedures, including factory audits and product evaluation.
Impact and Implications
Manufacturing & Import Sector
The extended timeline—September?1,?2026—offers industry players, especially MSMEs, a more realistic window for compliance planning.
Phased enforcement reduces initial shock, focusing first on complete units rather than parts.
MSMEs
Under the original timeline, MSMEs—constituting a majority of affected manufacturers—faced technical, administrative, and financial burdens. Compliance costs ranged widely (?50,000 to ?50 lakh), depending on machinery complexity.
The extension provides breathing room to secure funding, undergo safety upgrades, and onboard technical expertise.
Certification Workflow
Industry stakeholders are encouraged to identify covered products, conduct gap assessments, prepare documentation, and coordinate with BIS for certification through the Manakonline portal.
The portal currently supports pre-registration, with the full application and licensing infrastructure still under development
Moving Forward: Strategic Next Steps
Product Mapping
Firms should verify if their machinery falls within the First Schedule and classify it accordingly.Gap Analysis & Compliance Planning
Conduct internal reviews aligned with Indian Standards (Type A, B, C safety norms), and assess infrastructure, documentation, and training needs.Certification Preparation
Gather test reports, schedule audits, and prepare to apply under the BIS Scheme?X.Ongoing Readiness
Monitor for future Gazette notifications regarding assemblies and components and plan for timely compliance.Capacity Building
MSMEs and industry bodies could collaborate with BIS or consultants to support certification navigation and training.
Conclusion
The Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Amendment Order, 2025, strikes a thoughtful balance between advancing public safety and ensuring industry readiness. By extending the compliance deadline to September?1,?2026, and phasing the scope applicability, the Government provides a practical implementation roadmap that promotes smoother uptake of standards.
The regulation not only aims to elevate safety across India's machinery and electrical equipment sectors but also positions Indian manufacturing to better compete internationally, with globally aligned standards.
Please let me know if you’d like a detailed breakdown of schedules, certification procedures, or obligations for specific product categories.