While wearing a helmet is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, its effectiveness depends on quality, it says
The Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) today appealed to consumers across the country to use only BIS-certified helmets, calling for strict enforcement against the manufacture or sale of those without BIS certification.
As of June 2025, there are 176 manufacturers across India holding valid BIS licenses for protective helmets. While wearing a helmet is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, its effectiveness depends on quality, according to an official statement.
“With over 21 crore two-wheelers on Indian roads, rider safety is paramount. Sub-standard helmets compromise protection and defeat their purpose. To address this, a Quality Control Order has been in force since 2021, mandating ISI-marked helmets certified under BIS standards (IS 4151:2015) for all two-wheeler riders,” it said
The Department has observed that many helmets sold on roadsides lack the mandatory BIS certification, posing significant risks to consumers and numerous fatalities in road accidents. Therefore, there is an urgent need to tackle this issue head-on, it added.
To enforce quality standards, BIS conducts regular factory and market surveillance.
In the last financial year, over 500 helmet samples were tested and more than 30 search-and-seizure operations were carried out for misuse of the BIS Standard Mark.
In an operation carried out in Delhi, over 2,500 non-compliant helmets were seized from nine manufacturers with expired or cancelled licences.
Similar action at 17 retail and roadside locations led to the seizure of around 500 substandard helmets, with legal proceedings underway.
