Manufacturers selling lithium cells and batteries in the Indian market must now verify and display the rated mAh capacity on the label instead of relying only on a declared value. A lithium battery testing lab in India measures rated capacity against the applicable test method rather than accepting a manufacturer’s own figure. The change has moved from best practice to a regulatory requirement for portable sealed secondary lithium cells and batteries under India’s mandatory registration scheme.
Manufacturers already familiar with battery compliance will recognise a similar approach: safety testing and performance verification are separate checks, and both may be required before approval.
What Does IS 16046 Part 2 Cover for Lithium Battery Safety?
IS 16046 Part 2 is the Indian safety standard for portable sealed secondary lithium cells and batteries which is aligned with IEC 62133-2. It sets out the requirements for construction, marking and safety that a product must satisfy before it can be registered: short circuit behavior, overcharge protection, crush resistance and thermal stability under fault conditions. IS 16046 Part 2 testing verifies that a product will not be dangerous under abnormal use. It does not, by itself, verify the battery delivers the capacity printed on its label.
This is because rated capacity has traditionally been declared by the manufacturer rather than independently measured, meaning that a cell can pass every safety clause in IS 16046 Part 2 and still carry an inflated mAh rating. Safety and performance are two different things, and a BIS approved testing lab working on lithium products needs scope for both.
How Is Rated Capacity Tested at 20°C?
Rated capacity is the quantity of charge a fully charged cell or battery can supply under a specified discharge until it is deemed exhausted, expressed in mAh or Ah. It is the number on which a device's expected runtime is based.
Now this figure has to be verified against the applicable requirement, IS 16047 Part 3, Clause 7.3.1, discharge-performance test at 20°C. Capacity measurements drift higher or lower in temperature, so having a fixed temperature reference is important. Using a defined temperature reference allows different laboratories to produce consistent and comparable results. The essence of rated capacity verification is that the declared mAh value has to match what the cell actually delivers using this defined method, not just what the manufacturer says.
What Is the Timeline for New and Existing Registrations?
This is a new requirement for lithium cells and batteries registered under IS 16046 (Part 2), which was added in MeitY’s order dated 3 February 2026, based on reports of declared capacity not matching measured capacity in the market. Implementation guidelines, issued shortly afterward, on 10 February 2026, set out precisely how the requirement applies to different categories of applicant:
? From 1 May 2027, new registrations, model inclusions and renewals must comply with the requirement.
? Existing licensees with registration remaining valid until 30 April 2027 must comply by that date.
? Existing licensees with an expiry date of their licence beyond 30 April 2027 are compliant by their own expiry date.
? Compliance is demonstrated by a third-party test report for Clause 7.3.1 submitted along with existing IS 16046 (Part 2) documentation.
What Does This Mean for Power Banks and Portable Devices?
Power banks and the lithium cells used in many portable electronic devices fall under this requirement when they use portable sealed secondary lithium cells or batteries covered by IS 16046 (Part 2). Portable lithium battery testing for these products now has to cover both the existing safety requirements and the rated capacity (the battery capacity shown on the packaging).
Even if a power bank passes its safety tests, it may still need to undergo rated capacity testing to meet the requirements for that particular registration. This can also add time and cost if the test plan is changed close to renewal. Manufacturers should plan battery testing separately for each product category, as the applicable requirements may differ even when multiple devices are launched together.
Why Choose Ace Test Labs for Lithium Battery Testing?
Manufacturers preparing for this requirement, need a Lithium Battery Testing Lab in India with a documented scope covering both IS 16046 (Part 2) safety testing and the IS 16047 (Part 3) capacity method – not just one. Ace Test Labs offers lithium battery testing services on these parameters.
Ace Test Labs is a NABL testing lab which means its reports are issued under accreditation which can be independently verified by clients and regulators. Accreditation is scope specific, so check with any NABL accredited lab that the exact standard, clause and parameter needed for a registration sits within its current scope.
Confirm that IS 16047 (Part 3) Clause 7.3.1 is specifically included in the scope of the lab, along with IS 16046 (Part 2); if this reference is not found in the report, it will not be acceptable. Verification of rated capacity is now part of the process of registering a portable lithium cell or battery in India, and is no longer an optional check. Confirming laboratory scope before submission can help avoid delays later.
Contact Ace Test Labs for lithium battery testing.
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