Odisha government expands use of BIS standards for procurement and infrastructure

The Odisha government is strengthening its quality and testing ecosystem by increasing the use of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) protocols in public procurement, infrastructure, and essential services. During the third meeting of the State Level Committee on Standardization, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, officials discussed expanding the application of Indian Standards across various state departments.

Key initiatives include the establishment of a modern BIS office and laboratory complex in the state, which will provide priority testing infrastructure for materials such as gold, silver, steel, and aluminium. To support this transition, the committee recommended targeted training programs for personnel in departments including Public Works (PWD), Health, Agriculture, Water Resources, and Urban Development.

In terms of consumer protection, the state aims to promote the BISCARE App, which allows citizens to verify ISI and HUID marks and report substandard products. Additionally, the committee explored integrating state government portals with the BIS website via API for easier access to standards and suggested a pilot initiative to implement BIS standards for piped drinking water through WATCO and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation.