Government preparing for CCTV Ban in India, blocks Chinese video surveillance companies like Hikvision, Dahua, and TP-Link from selling internet-connected CCTV cameras and related hardware from April 1.
This action coincides with the rollout of new certification rules under the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) regulation, which will require approval before CCTV products can be sold in India. These rules apply to all brands offering CCTV cameras and video surveillance products in the country.
CCTV Ban in India from 1 April
According to a report, which references industry executives, this move is part of a larger effort by the government to improve security standards for connected devices. Authorities are reportedly not granting certification to products from these companies or any devices that use Chinese-origin chipsets. Without STQC clearance, such products cannot enter the Indian market.
Indian CCTV manufacturers are likely to support the government action for business reasons. Qubo, part of the Hero Group, has praised the government for tightening regulations on non-compliant, internet-connected CCTV systems.
What are the new rules?
The changes to the rules for CCTV cameras come from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) Essential Requirements (ER) norms introduced in April 2024.
These rules require manufacturers to disclose the country of origin for key components, such as the System-on-Chip (SoC), and to ensure that devices tested for vulnerabilities that allow unauthorized remote access. Companies given a two-year transition period to comply. So far, more than 500 CCTV models have received certification under the new regulations.
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