Centre Urges Public to Choose Only BIS-Certified Helmets for Enhanced Road Safety

TIT Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com

New Delhi, July 5 : The Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has issued a nationwide appeal urging consumers to use only BIS-certified helmets to ensure road safety. This comes amid increasing concerns over the proliferation of substandard helmets in the market, which compromise rider protection.

India has over 21 crore two-wheelers on its roads, making helmet quality a critical factor in preventing fatalities. While helmet use is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, only those meeting BIS standards (IS 4151:2015) offer reliable protection. A Quality Control Order, in force since 2021, mandates ISI-marked helmets for all two-wheeler riders.

As of June 2025, 176 manufacturers in India are licensed by BIS to produce certified helmets. However, authorities have noted the widespread sale of uncertified helmets, especially by roadside vendors, posing serious risks to public safety.

To crack down on violators, BIS has intensified its enforcement efforts. In the past year alone, over 500 helmet samples were tested, and more than 30 search-and-seizure operations were conducted. In a major operation in Delhi, over 2,500 non-compliant helmets were seized from nine manufacturers with expired or cancelled licences. Another raid at 17 retail outlets led to the confiscation of around 500 substandard helmets, with legal action underway.

The Department has also written to District Collectors and Magistrates to launch campaigns targeting sellers and manufacturers of non-compliant helmets, integrating these drives with ongoing road safety initiatives. BIS branch offices are coordinating with local administrations and police departments to support enforcement efforts, with encouraging results already seen in Delhi-NCR.

In Chennai, the BIS team conducted a roadshow distributing ISI-marked helmets and raising awareness in partnership with traffic authorities. The BIS Care App now allows users to verify licensed helmet manufacturers and lodge complaints.

Through campaigns like Quality Connect and digital outreach, BIS is actively engaging consumers to promote certified safety gear. The Department reaffirms its commitment to consumer protection and aims to eliminate substandard helmets from the market, making Indian roads safer for all.