The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Bengaluru Branch Office, hosted a focused technical session titled “Manak Manthan” to discuss the upcoming revision of the National Lighting Code of India. The consultation witnessed active participation from 25 experts representing various industries and academic institutions, all contributing valuable insights to shape the forthcoming National Lighting Code 2025.

The session commenced with a welcome address by Sushma Rao M, Director & Head of BIS Bengaluru Branch Office, who emphasized the importance of collaborative stakeholder engagement in developing robust and practical standards. She also highlighted the significance of Manak Manthan as a vital platform for dialogue, allowing industry, experts, and policymakers to contribute meaningfully to the standardization process

Delivering the keynote address, Shri Asit Maharana, Director  and Head of the Electrotechnical Department at BIS, spoke on the pivotal role of standardization in national infrastructure growth. He emphasized the importance of harmonizing Indian standards with global best practices.

Vinodini Kishore, Scientist- E/ Director at BIS Bengaluru, outlined BIS’s evolution from its 1947 origins to its current role as India’s National Standards Body, with over 23,000 standards developed across sectors. She emphasized the importance of standardization in advancing technology, ensuring safety, and boosting industry competitiveness, and highlighted the collaborative process involving stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and civil society.

The core technical session was led by Neha Agarwal, Scientist-D, Electrotechnical Department, who detailed the history and future direction of the National Lighting Code, originally published as SP 72:2010. She outlined the rationale for the revision, citing advancements in lighting technologies, increasing focus on energy efficiency, and the shift toward human-centric design. The revised version, SP 72:2025, will feature expanded guidelines for lighting in healthcare, industrial, and educational settings, as well as for roads and public infrastructure. New chapters will also address horticultural lighting, UV germicidal solutions, and digital lighting controls, aligning with emerging trends and innovations in the field.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion, during which attendees shared their feedback and recommendations for the updated code. These contributions will be factored into the ongoing standard revision process.

Manak Manthan reaffirmed BIS’s commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and quality in standard formulation. Officials encouraged stakeholders to review and provide feedback on draft documents currently available on the BIS portal, marking a key stage in the public consultation process.

 

*****

(Release ID: 2131305)