India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced a plan to ease mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for high-tech companies importing specialized equipment. This move aims to accelerate semiconductor, AI, and advanced technology manufacturing in the country.
August 25, 2026
Announcement Date
⏳ Time Machine
How today’s news fits into the bigger picture
Early 2020s
'Make in India' Push Intensifies
The Indian government intensified its 'Make in India' initiative, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing across various sectors, including electronics and semiconductors. This led to calls for regulatory reforms.
Mid-2020s
Industry Concerns Surface
Japanese semiconductor and AI firms, along with other international companies, raised concerns about the complexities and delays caused by existing BIS certification requirements for specialized equipment.
August 24, 2026
Goyal Meets Japanese Firms
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed representatives of Japanese firms from semiconductor and AI sectors in Tokyo, where concerns regarding BIS certification were directly raised and noted.
August 25, 2026
Framework Announced
Piyush Goyal publicly announced that the government is working on a framework to exempt or ease BIS certification for high-tech companies, specifically mentioning semiconductors and AI.
Today
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced a framework is being developed to ease BIS certification for high-tech imports.
What happens next?
The detailed framework for BIS exemptions is expected to be finalized, with India's first new semiconductor fabrication plant targeted for commissioning by 2028.
On August 25, 2026, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India is developing a framework to simplify mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification requirements for high-tech companies. The initiative targets firms in sectors like semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that import specialized equipment and components for manufacturing. This reform seeks to eliminate delays in setting up operations and boost the 'Make in India' program, potentially offering exemptions at company, industry, product, or project levels. The move responds to concerns raised by international, particularly Japanese, companies.
💭 If you're wondering…
It is a government initiative launched in 2014 to encourage companies to manufacture their products in India, aiming to boost employment, foster innovation, and enhance the country's manufacturing sector.
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