Not just CCTVs, Indian security checks may soon be expanded to cover many other items from China

NEW DELHI: India is considering expanding its “trusted source” mandate, currently applied to CCTVs, to other electronic segments, which will essentially mean more security checks for China-made smart meters or PCs, ToI reported on October 2. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on Chinese imports and address security concerns related to smart meters, parking sensors, drone parts, laptops, and desktops, the report (by Sidhartha) said.

The mandate for CCTVs, mainly imported from China, will start this month. Following this, the government plans to bring other categories of electronic devices under similar regulation. The commerce department has already extended the import monitoring system for laptops and computers until December and may introduce additional restrictions later.

The primary goal is to ensure that devices connected through the Internet of Things (IoT) do not pose a security threat by potentially transmitting data across India’s northern borders.

Recent security gaps identified in surveillance cameras have led to mandatory certifications by designated labs. This includes key components like the “system on a chip” (SoC), which are crucial parts of electronic systems.

“The idea is to build a trusted supply chain for electronic goods as we do not want any weak links that can be tapped by foreign firms given that we are in a hostile neighbourhood,” a source said.

This shift from using tariff barriers to setting technical specifications is prompted by India’s commitments under WTO’s IT Agreement-I (ITA-I). Moreover, Chinese manufacturers could have bypassed tariffs and still dominated the market with their low-cost products.The mandate for CCTVs was initially applied to government procurement and later extended to the retail market. This phased implementation allowed Indian sellers time to adapt and comply with the new requirements.

The PC and laptop industry had previously argued against the government’s import checks, citing concerns that it would lead to supply shortages and higher prices for consumers.