Phone screen guards to get expensive: Here’s what new BIS rules from April 2027 mean for buyers in India

The government is set to tighten quality standards for smartphone screen protectors sold in India, bringing the products under the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration framework. Under the new rules, manufacturers and importers will have to ensure that screen protectors meet prescribed quality standards before selling them in the country.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has introduced the new requirement through a September 21 notification. The rules will come into effect from April 1, 2027.

What is the new rule for smartphone screen protectors?

Under the latest notification, the Centre has added “Screen Protectors for smartphones” to the compulsory registration framework for electronic products.


From April 1, 2027, manufacturers and importers will have to ensure that smartphone screen protectors comply with the Indian Standard IS 19348:2025 before they can be sold in India.

The move means screen protectors available in the Indian market will have to meet the specified quality and testing requirements under the compulsory-registration framework.

However, the government has not imposed an immediate ban on screen protectors. Companies have been given a transition period of more than six months to meet the new requirements before the rules take effect.

What are the new screen protector guidelines?

The IS 19348:2025 standard lays down quality and testing requirements for glass screen protectors. The guidelines cover several aspects of the product, including glass quality, clarity, additional features and packaging.

What does the new rule mean for smartphone buyers?

For consumers, the new regulations could lead to greater consistency in the quality of screen protectors available in the Indian market.

The market currently has a wide range of screen guards and tempered glass protectors, from established brands to low-cost and unbranded products. Prices and quality can vary significantly between products.

Once the new framework takes effect, manufacturers and importers will be responsible for ensuring that their screen protectors comply with the required Indian Standard.

Will screen protector prices increase?

The official Gazette notification does not state that screen protector prices will increase or that particular products will be removed from the market.

However, the compliance requirements could affect manufacturers and importers, particularly where additional product testing and certification are required. Any resulting impact on prices would depend on how companies manage these additional requirements.

Is the government banning smartphone screen protectors?

The government has not banned all smartphone screen protectors.

Instead, the Centre has brought “Screen Protectors for smartphones” under the compulsory BIS registration framework. Compliance with IS 19348:2025 will become mandatory from April 1, 2027, giving manufacturers and importers time to meet the new quality and testing requirements.