Expressnews
Chennai, January 09, 2026: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, celebrated its Foundation Day with a Standards Carnival at Sri Sairam Engineering College, Chennai, on 9 January 2026.
BIS is responsible for standards formulation, conformity assessment, certification, hallmarking of gold and silverjewellery, and other quality-related activities. Through its services, BIS supports industry, trade, commerce, and consumers across the country. The BIS Act, 2016 mandates BIS to formulate, promote, and implement Indian Standards nationwide.
BIS observes its Foundation Day on 6 January, marking the beginning of India’s national standards movement with the establishment of the Indian Standards Institution in 1947. As the National Standards Body of India, BIS continues to promote quality and safety standards across sectors, evolving with the needs of industry and consumers while aligning with global best practices.
As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, BIS Chennai Branch Office, in association with Sri Sairam Engineering College, organised the Standards Carnival with active participation from industries and students. The BIS stalls were inaugurated by Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai, along with senior officials of BIS and faculty members of Sri Sairam Engineering College.
During the live coverage of the event by All India Radio, Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai, urged consumers to use the BIS Care App before purchasing BIS-certified products bearing ISI, Hallmark and CRS marks. He emphasized that misuse or false claims of standard marks are illegal and advised consumers to lodge complaints through the BIS Care App in case of any such violations. He further stated that stringent action would be taken against defaulting companies or manufacturers and advised consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing products to ensure quality and safety.
Standards Carnival featured around 15 stalls set up by BIS licensees, showcasing BIS-certified products and highlighting the importance of BIS Certification. Participating industries included Ergoofis India Pvt. Ltd., TI Cycles of India, Nitin Wirenetting India Pvt. Ltd., Apollo Tyres Limited, The Supreme Industries Limited, UltraTech Cement Ltd., Habeeb Tanning Company – Toni Rossi Division, UNO Minda Limited, Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances Limited, Sakthi Sai Safety Glass India, Pradeep Stainless India Pvt. Ltd., Kreeda, ChettinadCement Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Nilkamal Limited, and CEAT Limited.
More than 8,000 students from schools and colleges visited the stalls, interacted with industry representatives and BIS officials, and gained insights into BIS certification and quality-marked products.
To further enhance awareness of Indian Standards, several competitions were conducted, including a Technical Quiz on Indian Standards, Drawing Competition, English Essay Writing Competition, and a Treasure Hunt based on Indian Standards and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event also included engaging fun activities such as build-a-tower challenges, ring throw, colour matching, snake and ladder, blindfold activities, and other interactive games, making learning about standards both informative and enjoyable.
The valedictory event was attended by Shri S. K. Kanogia, Deputy Director General (Southern Region), BIS, Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai, and Dr. Sai Prakash Leo Muthu, Chairman & CEO, Sairam Institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri S. K. Kanogia, Deputy Director General (Southern Region), BIS, stated that initiatives such as the Standards Carnival are organised to create early awareness among students about the importance of standards and quality. He emphasised that BIS continuously engages with academia and industry to build a culture of standardization, innovation, and sustainability, which is essential for national development and global competitiveness.
Dr. Sai Prakash Leo Muthu, Chairman & CEO, Sairam Institutions, expressed appreciation for BIS initiatives and stated that the Standards Carnival provided students with valuable exposure to real-world applications of standards.He added that interaction with industry and BIS officials helps students understand the role of quality and standardization in engineering education and professional practice.
BIS officials interacted extensively with students to create awareness about BIS schemes, certification processes, and the critical role of BIS in ensuring quality and safety in everyday life. The Standards Carnival successfully fostered meaningful interaction among industry, academia, and BIS, providing students with valuable exposure to the importance of quality, standardization, and the practical implementation of Indian Standards across the country. Winners of the competitions were awarded prizes and certificates.
