MoRTH: Only BIS-Certified Helmets (With ISI Mark) To Be Sold In India From 1st Of June 2021

Updated: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 0:18 [IST]

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has issued a notification, stating that from 1st June 2021, all two-wheeler helmets manufactured and sold in India will need to have an 'ISI' mark.

ISI Mark Mandatory On All Helmets From June 2021: MoRTH Issues Notification

As per the ‘Helmet for riders of Two-Wheelers Motor Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2020', all helmets for two-wheelers must receive BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification, to be legally sold in India. The order comes with the aim of bringing an end to low-quality two-wheeler helmets in the country, further ensuring safety in case of any road accidents.

MoRTH stated that, as per the directions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, a separate Committee was created consisting of experts from various fields, including doctors from AIIMS and also from BIS. The committee was tasked to come with revised specifications which allowed the manufacturing of lighter yet safer helmets for Indian roads.

The committee feels that with the revised specifications from BIS now in place and the number of helmet manufacturers in India, there will be a good competition to produce lighter and improved quality two-wheeler helmets in the country.

Having said that, the government has done away with the specification which states that the weight of the helmet should be less than 1.2 kilograms. A rule which was implemented back in 2018. However, the weight specification was quickly discontinued after it restricted the sale of imported helmets, which were over the weight limit and did not carry the ISI mark.

The revised specification now, however, allows the sale of imported two-wheeler helmets in the Indian market, as long as it complies with the Indian standards. Considering most imported helmets comply with international standards such as DOT and ECE; there will be no problem using it on Indian roads as well.

Thoughts On ISI Mark On Two-Wheeler Helmets Being Mandatory From June 2021

The revision of allowing manufacturing and sale of BIS-certified two-wheeler helmets in India from June 2021 is a welcome move. It ensures the safety of motorists and offers good protection in case of an accident. Also, considering the rule is implemented from June, it also gives manufacturers to adopt and ensure they get their helmets certified by BIS in time.