Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution; New & Renewable Energy) presided over the 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on January 6, 2026, in New Delhi. On the occasion, he launched the Beta Version of the new BIS Integrated Standardisation Portal — a digital platform integrating the entire standards development lifecycle, from drafting and review to public consultation and notification. BIS, India's National Standards Body under the Department of Consumer Affairs, currently has over 23,300 Indian Standards in force. Addressing the Quality Conclave held alongside the Foundation Day, Minister Joshi highlighted BIS's shift from a regulatory to a facilitative role, supporting industry compliance through simplified processes. He underscored that Indian Standards are being extended to cover frontier areas including renewable energy, electric mobility, smart infrastructure, digital technologies, sustainability, and green products — reflecting India's developmental priorities. BIS hallmarking was cited as a key tool for strengthening consumer trust in gold jewellery, electronic products, and other goods. The new portal is designed to increase transparency in the standards-setting process and enable broader stakeholder participation. The Foundation Day reinforced BIS's role not merely as a regulator but as an enabler of India's quality economy and export competitiveness, consistent with the government's broader push under 'Make in India' and 'Quality First' campaigns.