The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued fresh guidance clarifying how Wearable Glasses and Extended Reality (XR) products — including Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, and MR Glasses — must be classified under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). Issued on 13 August 2026 under Ref: Reg/2026/G-01, this circular addresses a growing compliance challenge: as wearable devices increasingly combine audio, camera, and display-overlay functions in a single product, manufacturers have had no fixed reference point for selecting the correct CRS product category, sub-category, and product name.

This clarification falls under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, and follows BIS's earlier move to bring AR, VR, and MR devices under mandatory CRS registration. For manufacturers, importers, and brand owners dealing in wearable and immersive technology, getting this classification right the first time is essential to avoid testing delays, application rejections, and licensing complications.

Also Read: BIS Mandates CRS Registration for Reality Devices in India

What BIS Actually Clarified on 13 August 2026

The circular, signed by Sonali Gupta, Head (Registration), ties CRS classification directly to product functionality rather than marketing terminology. This matters in practice: a CRS application filed under the wrong category doesn't just get flagged for correction — it can mean testing against the wrong Indian Standard, delays during application scrutiny, and in some cases withdrawal and refiling of the entire application.

Particulars	Details
Regulatory Authority	Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Registration Department
Reference Number	Reg/2026/G-01
Date of Issue	13 August 2026
Governing Order	Electronics and IT Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021
Products Covered	Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, MR Glasses, and other Extended Reality Products
Applicability	Immediate — applies to new BIS CRS applications

Also Read: View & Download the Official BIS Circular Reg/2026/G-01

Classification Table: Wearable Glasses Under CRS

BIS has set out four distinct classification paths for wearable glasses, based entirely on device functionality:

Wearable Glasses
S. No.	Product Category	Sub-category	Product Name	Product Description
1	Wireless Earphones and Headphones	Audio Glasses	Audio Glasses	Bluetooth or other wireless connectivity, microphone and speaker, audio calling and music playback, along with similar functionalities, including an AI-based voice assistant.
2	Digital Camera	Smart Glasses	Smart Glasses	Features of Audio Glasses (with or without such features), along with a camera capable of capturing photographs only.
3	Video Camera	Smart Glasses	Smart Glasses	Features of Audio Glasses (with or without such features), along with a camera capable of capturing both photographs and videos.
4	Extended Reality Products (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality Etc.)	AR Glasses	AR Glasses	Features of Smart Glasses (with or without such features), along with an overlay display visible through the lenses.
		MR Glasses	MR Glasses

Also Read: Audio/Video/IT Compliance Testing Services

Classification Table: Extended Reality (AR/VR/MR) Products

Separately, BIS has defined five specific product names under the Extended Reality Products category. Manufacturers must match their product to the correct name based on actual display and interaction technology — not general marketing terms like "XR headset."

Extended Reality Products (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality Etc.)
S. No.	Product Category	Sub-category	Product Name
1	Extended Reality Products (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality Etc.)	AR Glasses	AR Glasses
2		Other AR Devices	Other AR Devices
3		VR Headset	VR Headset
4		MR Glasses	MR Glasses
5		Other MR Devices	Other MR Devices

Also Read: BIS Notification 2026 for XR Devices

Why the "One Licence Per Product Name" Rule Matters

The circular includes one clarification with real operational consequences: separate BIS licences are required for each product name listed under the Wearable Glasses and Extended Reality Products tables. In practice:

• A company manufacturing both AR Glasses and a VR Headset cannot cover both under a single BIS CRS certification — each product name needs independent registration.

• Adding video-recording capability to a previously photo-only Smart Glasses product triggers a re-classification (Digital Camera → Video Camera), likely requiring a fresh or amended application.

• Multi-function product lines (audio + photo + AR overlay) need feature-by-feature evaluation to land on a single correct classification, rather than being filed under whichever category seems closest.

Steps to Take Before Filing a BIS CRS Application

• List every functional feature of the device — connectivity, audio, camera type, display overlay, AI functions.

• Determine camera capability precisely — photo-only and photo+video are separate classifications.

• Check for a display overlay — any digital information shown through the lenses moves the product into Extended Reality Products.

• Identify the exact product name from the BIS tables rather than a close approximation.

• Budget for multiple licences if your product line includes variants with different feature sets.

• Foreign manufacturers should also confirm Foreign Manufacturer Certification requirements and appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) before filing.

Also Read: Guide to BIS CRS Registration for Products in India

Common Classification Mistakes to Avoid

• Filing a video-capable Smart Glasses product under "Digital Camera" because an earlier, photo-only version was registered there.

• Treating "AR Glasses" and "Other AR Devices" as interchangeable — they are separate product names with separate licensing needs.

• Assuming audio-only glasses can be filed the same way as camera-equipped Smart Glasses because they look identical externally.

• Missing the licensing implication when a hardware refresh adds a new feature, such as video recording or a display overlay.

Also Read: BIS CRS Labelling Guidelines

About Absolute Veritas

Absolute Veritas is a leading Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) consultancy with over 15 years of expertise, headquartered in New Delhi, India. We help manufacturers, importers, and brand owners navigate BIS compliance across electronics, IT equipment, toys, batteries, and emerging wearable technology categories.

As wearable and Extended Reality product classifications continue to evolve, our team helps clients identify the correct CRS product category and product name before filing — avoiding costly re-classification, testing delays, and licence duplication. From product evaluation through R-number issuance, we manage the complete BIS CRS registration process for Audio Glasses, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, MR Glasses, and other XR devices entering the Indian market.

How To Get BIS CRS Certification in India? | BIS Registration Process | Absolute Veritas

Contact us today at cs@absoluteveritas.com for expert guidance on BIS CRS classification and registration.

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