New Delhi: In India, buying a cheap tempered glass or screen protector for a smartphone could soon be a very different experience. The Centre has made screen protectors available for smartphones under the mandatory registration framework of electronic and information technology goods and made it mandatory to register them as screen protectors for smartphones, and the new quality requirement will come into effect from April 1, 2027. It is to support the introduction of screen protectors into the Indian Standard and the quality compliance in the market to enhance quality control.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the notification on September 21, 2026, amending the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. Under this amendment, "Screen Protectors for smartphones" are included as a new item in the list of products that are subject to compulsory registration, and the standard of these products is IS 19348:2025 called "Glass Screen Protector- Specification."
The new requirement does not necessarily mean all screen protectors available in shops are to be banned immediately. The manufacturers and importers have been informed before the mandatory requirements come into effect. So from April 1, 2027, screen protectors covered by the notification will have to conform to the prescribed Indian Standard under the mandatory registration framework. That's important for consumers because the government notification provides a future compliance deadline rather than a market-wide ban.
Why is the government regulating screen protectors?
Screen protectors are the most common smartphone accessories in India. At any price and quality, from inexpensive tempered glass products to high-end smartphone screens with protection, screen protectors are available. There is a need for those kinds of products to be more consistent to set quality standards for the industry, and this is the aim of the new law.
The IS 19348:2025 standard was developed for glass screen protectors. The standard covers requirements and testing related to glass screen protectors used to provide additional protection for electronic displays. A BIS draft document on the standard describes its scope as covering glass screen protectors used on devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, PC screens, and e-readers.
With the standardisation process introducing more and more quality glass in the manufacturing process, the manufacturers would have to be more keen on the quality and performance of the glass used to make their products. According to the standard, the quality of glass and strength and the clarity of the surface and the optical area are reported as under the standard. This could help to set the market expectations for the products sold in the Indian market more uniform.
What will change for consumers?
For smartphone users, the biggest change is likely to be clarity on the quality requirements for screen protectors. In practice, once the new provisions are implemented, customers who buy covered products will increasingly see products that have gone through the compliance process.
A screen protector may look simple, but its quality can affect smartphone use in everyday use. Poor-quality products can be scratched or touch-responsive, poorly fit, or not clear (or worse, cracked), and the glass will not do its job. A good protector, on the other hand, is expected to have a well-defined set of requirements for the material and performance of the glass.
The new rules could also have a big impact on the large unorganised sector of the screen-protector market. Many industry reports showed that huge amounts of the supply come from unorganised or grey market channels. This mandatory registration will put more pressure on manufacturers and importers in this segment to comply and therefore not just make them work hard to comply from now on.
What manufacturers and importers need to know?
The new regulation will mainly affect manufacturers and importers of smartphone screen protectors. Companies will need to ensure that their products comply with the applicable Indian Standard and meet the requirements of the compulsory registration framework before the April 2027 deadline.
The government notification places the products at Serial No. 66 of the schedule of the compulsory registration order. It specifically links smartphone screen protectors with IS 19348:2025 and states that the provisions will apply from April 1, 2027.
The Bureau of Indian Standards has a vital role in India’s product quality framework. BIS states that while its certification scheme is voluntary, the Central Government can make compliance mandatory for certain products in the public interest.
The new rule would also encourage more domestic production of screen protectors. The companies in the segment may have more incentives to build compliant production facilities and testing processes in advance of the deadline.
The lesson for consumers is simple: April 1, 2027, is the date to remember. No one has yet announced an immediate ban on every screen guard presently being sold. Rather, smartphone screen protectors have been placed within a compulsory registration framework with compliance to IS 19348:2025 starting from this date.
As manufacturers readjust for the new regime, the quality and durability of tempered glass and other glass screen protectors are likely to be more critical for smartphone users who may be looking for those. It represents a significant regulatory change for a product that is usually marketed as a low-cost smartphone accessory but, in the end, helps protect expensive displays very well.
