The Government of India has recently mandated that Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (XR) devices must comply with updated safety certification norms under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This move includes bringing these XR devices under the compulsory registration regime governed by the revised Indian Standard IS/IEC 62368: Part 1: 2023, replacing older safety norms IS 13252 (2010) and IS 616 (2017). This is the first time XR products have been included in India’s mandatory safety certification framework, marking a significant regulatory recognition of the immersive technology sector’s growth in both consumer and enterprise markets.
The updated safety framework mandates that XR devices be certified to meet the new global benchmark standard, which enhances consumer protection and aligns India’s electronics safety regulations with international norms. Products currently certified under older standards have a transitional period until May 1, 2026, to comply with the new standard, after which the older certifications will not be valid. This tighter safety regime applies specifically to XR devices more swiftly, with a six-month transition period starting from the notification date, recognizing the smaller scale and faster cycles in XR hardware manufacturing compared to other electronics.
How This Will Help the XR Industry in India
- Enhanced Consumer Confidence: With mandatory safety certification, Indian consumers and enterprises will gain confidence in the reliability and safety of XR devices manufactured or imported into the country. This trust is crucial for wider adoption of immersive technologies in sectors like education, healthcare, manufacturing, and entertainment.
- Boost to Domestic Manufacturing: Clear and updated safety standards provide Indian XR hardware makers with a well-defined regulatory framework, encouraging innovation and manufacturing domestically rather than relying extensively on imports. This can stimulate growth in the XR ecosystem within the country.
- Global Competitiveness: Aligning with international standards (IS/IEC 62368) positions Indian XR products for export markets by ensuring they meet globally recognized safety requirements. This can enhance India’s role as a competitive player in the global XR hardware supply chain.
- Industry Maturity and Formalization: Bringing XR devices under mandatory certification is an important step toward formalizing the industry in India, attracting investments, and fostering partnerships between startups, established companies, and research institutions developing XR tech.
- Support for Emerging Use Cases: As XR finds increasing applications in safety training, industrial simulations, healthcare, and education, ensuring device safety is paramount. The certification regime will help maintain safe and reliable devices essential for these critical use cases, reinforcing XR’s value proposition in India’s growing digital economy
