Sat Jul 05 09:51:19 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Centre Cracks Down on Substandard Helmets to Protect Two-Wheeler Riders**

**New Delhi, July 5, 2025** – In a move to bolster road safety, the central government has directed states to take stringent action against manufacturers and retailers selling substandard, non-BIS certified helmets for two-wheeler riders.

The Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are urging consumers nationwide to use only helmets that have received BIS certification. This is in response to concerns that substandard helmets compromise rider safety and contribute to fatalities in road accidents.

“With over 21 crore two-wheelers on Indian roads, rider safety is paramount,” stated an official release. “Wearing a helmet is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and while helmet use is reducing fatal head injuries, more needs to be done.”

A Quality Control Order mandating ISI-marked helmets certified under BIS standards has been in effect since 2021. Currently, 176 manufacturers across India possess valid BIS licenses for protective helmets. However, the Department has observed the widespread sale of non-certified helmets, especially at roadside locations.

BIS has been actively conducting factory and market surveillance to enforce quality standards. Last fiscal year, over 500 helmet samples were tested, and more than 30 search-and-seizure operations were conducted. A recent operation in Delhi led to the seizure of over 2,500 non-compliant helmets from 9 manufacturers with expired or cancelled licenses. Another operation at 17 retail and roadside locations resulted in approximately 500 substandard helmets being seized.

The Department of Consumer Affairs had previously written to District Collectors (DCs) and District Magistrates (DMs), urging them to launch a nationwide campaign to penalize those involved in the manufacture and sale of non-compliant helmets. BIS branch offices have been instructed to work closely with district administrations and police departments to support this ongoing campaign.

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