Govt bans low-quality phone screen protectors, issues guidelines

The government is bringing smartphone screen protectors under mandatory BIS registration from April 2027. As part of the new rules, manufacturers will have to meet specified quality and testing standards before selling them in India.Representative image created using AIThe government is banning the sale of low-quality smartphone screen protectors that do not meet prescribed quality standards. Under the new mandate, such products will have to comply with an Indian Standard from April 2027. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has brought smartphone screen protectors under the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration framework.Under a September 21 notification, the Centre has added “Screen Protectors for smartphones” to the compulsory registration framework for electronic goods. From April 1, 2027, all manufacturers and importers in India will have to ensure their screen protectors meet the BIS standard IS 19348:2025 before selling them in India.The latest mandate means that smartphone screen protectors sold in the Indian market will have to meet the specified Indian Standard under the compulsory-registration framework. The notification does not impose an immediate ban on screen protectors. However, it gives manufacturers and importers a transition period of more than six months before the new requirement takes effect starting April 1, 2027.What are the new screen protector guidelines?The new IS 19348:2025 standard sets quality and testing requirements for glass screen protectors. The key guidelines cover: Glass quality: Requirements for size, glass strength and surface quality.Clarity: Requirements for light transmission and visible defects. Additional features: Covers adhesive, anti-shatter film, oleophobic coating, anti-glare, blue-light filtering and privacy films.Packaging: Requires key details such as the manufacturer, batch number and thickness to be provided on the packagingAs part of the new guidelines, manufacturers will have to meet these quality requirements and ensure screen protectors are properly tested before they can be sold in India. They will also have to provide key product details on the packaging, including the manufacturer, batch number and thickness.What does the new rule mean for buyers?For consumers, the new rules could mean better-quality smartphone screen protectors in the market.Right now, the market is flooded with screen guards and tempered glass protectors at a wide range of prices, from established brands to inexpensive and often unbranded options. Under the new framework, manufacturers and importers will have to ensure these products meet the required quality standards.Price hike on screen protectors?The official Gazette itself does not say that screen protector prices will increase or that specific products will be removed from the market. However, compliance requirements could affect how some manufacturers and importers operate, particularly if products need to undergo additional testing and certification.The government has therefore not banned all smartphone screen protectors. Rather, it has brought the category under compulsory registration and made compliance with IS 19348:2025 mandatory from April 1, 2027.Notably, the notification is issued under the powers of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, and amends the existing 2021 compulsory-registration order.- EndsPublished By: Divya BhatiPublished On: Sep 22, 2026 13:58 IST