Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, celebrated World Standards Day 2025. The event was organised by the BIS Southern Regional Laboratory (SRL), Chennai, on “Standards Empower Testing: Navigating the Journey to World-Class Infrastructure.” This modernised state of art laboratory plays a pivotal role in testing, certification, and quality assurance, thereby supporting industries and consumers through credible conformance to Indian Standards.
Held at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham, Guindy, Chennai, the event brought together senior scientists and experts from BIS-recognised and NABL-accredited labs to discuss the importance of testing, quality infrastructure, achievements and challenges faced by laboratories.
The programme began with an invocation and lamp lighting, followed by a Welcome Address by Shri M.A.J. Vinod, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, SRL-BIS. He highlighted SRL’s transformation into a world-class testing facility with advanced instrumentation, supporting sectors like electrical, chemical, mechanical, and civil engineering. He noted that NABL accreditation and ISO/IEC alignment have enhanced transparency, speed, and accuracy, positioning SRL as a regional benchmark.
Dr. Meenakshi Ganesan, Scientist-G / Deputy Director General (Southern Region), BIS, delivered the Inaugural Address, stressing that testing and conformity assessment are central to quality infrastructure. “As India’s industries align with global benchmarks, standards ensure safety, reliability and sustainability,” she said. She also acknowledged the role of labs, industry, and policymakers in advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat through quality and innovation.
Shri S.D. Dayanand, Scientist-F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai Branch Office, read the World Standards Day message and emphasized BIS’s outreach through stakeholder engagement, training, and standard promotion. He underlined the importance of collaboration between industry, academia, and labs.
A special Session on the theme “Standards Empower Testing: Navigating the Journey to World Class Infrastructure” featured expert addresses by professionals from key organisations:
• Dr. Sanu Jacob, Director, National Food Laboratory, Chennai, highlighted the role of testing in food safety, authenticity, and traceability, supported by FSSAI protocols.
• Shri S. Mani, Scientist-D (Mechanical), National Test House, Chennai, discussed mechanical testing facilities at NTH and how Indian Standards support precision in engineering and manufacturing.
• Shri Ramakrishnan Kesavan, Head – Conformity Assistant (India & International Zone) Schneider Electric, Bangalore, spoke on the role of conformity assessment in sustainability, product safety, and global compliance.
The event concluded with an Open House Session, where participants interacted with BIS officials and gained insights into testing procedures, accreditation, and laboratory advancements. A detailed overview of SRL showcased its upgraded facilities, sophisticated equipment, and expanded domain capabilities.
Participants appreciated BIS’s commitment to standardization and quality, reaffirming that strong testing infrastructure—guided by standards—is vital to building world-class infrastructure and a sustainable, quality-driven nation.