In a move to prioritize the safety of two-wheeler riders, the central government has directed states to intensify their crackdown on manufacturers and retailers involved in selling substandard helmets. This directive underscores the critical importance of using helmets that meet the safety standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

With India having over 21 crore two-wheelers, the widespread availability of non-compliant helmets poses a significant threat, contributing to a high number of fatalities in road accidents. The Department of Consumer Affairs and the BIS are urging consumers to prioritize their safety by choosing only BIS-certified helmets.

The government has already made wearing a helmet mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. However, the sale of substandard helmets, particularly those lacking the mandatory BIS certification and sold on roadsides, continues to undermine these efforts. These helmets pose a severe risk to public safety and have been linked to numerous road accident fatalities.

Enforcement efforts are being ramped up, with BIS conducting regular factory and market surveillance to identify and seize non-compliant helmets. In the past year alone, over 500 helmet samples were tested, leading to more than 30 search-and-seizure operations targeting the misuse of the BIS Standard Mark. In one operation in Delhi, over 2,500 non-compliant helmets were seized from nine manufacturers whose licenses had expired or were canceled.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways implemented a Quality Control Order (QCO) in June 2021, mandating ISI-marked helmets certified under BIS standards for all two-wheeler riders. Any helmet manufactured or sold without this certification violates the BIS Act of 2016. As of June 2025, there are 176 manufacturers across India holding valid BIS licenses for protective helmets. Consumers can verify the credentials of helmet manufacturers through the BIS Care App or by visiting the BIS website.

District officials are instructed to collaborate with police and BIS officers to identify violations. This campaign will be integrated with existing road safety initiatives. The government is calling for strict enforcement against manufacturers operating without BIS licenses or using counterfeit ISI marks, as well as retailers selling these non-compliant products. To date, 162 licenses have been canceled or expired related to the manufacturing of substandard helmets. Additionally, 27 search and seizure operations have been conducted for misuse of the BIS standard mark.

Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare, emphasized that helmets save lives only if they are of good quality. She urged all stakeholders to actively participate in this campaign to remove unsafe helmets from the market and educate consumers about the importance of BIS-certified products.