Reports from Indian media indicate that India will implement a “soft ban” on Chinese surveillance equipment starting April 1. Under the new rules, all surveillance products sold in India must pass security certification under the STQC (Standardization Testing and Quality Certification) framework. Industry sources say devices using Chinese chipsets are unlikely to receive approval, effectively freezing sales of major Chinese brands such as Hikvision and Dahua, which have long held a significant share of the Indian market.
Rather than issuing a direct ban, India is using technical regulations to restrict market access. The new requirements mandate vulnerability testing and disclosure of key components, particularly the country of origin of system-on-chip (SoC) components. According to industry reports, authorities are effectively denying certification to products that rely on Chinese chips. Since leading Chinese brands depend heavily on such supply chains, the policy cuts off their ability to comply with the new standards.
The rules were introduced in April 2024 with a two-year transition period, Chinese companies have tried but been unable to obtain certification. As the April 1 deadline approaches, uncertified products will lose market access. The policy has already begun reshaping the market: Chinese brands, which previously accounted for roughly one-third of market share, are seeing a sharp decline, while Indian manufacturers—using non-Chinese components and localized systems—are rapidly expanding their presence. While the government frames the move as a cybersecurity measure, industry observers widely view it as a form of industrial protection under the “Make in India” initiative.
Source: Net Ease, March 31, 2026
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