India is set to block Chinese video surveillance giants like Hikvision and Dahua from selling internet-connected CCTV cameras and related hardware starting April 1. This move also extends to TP-Link, a major CCTV manufacturer of Chinese origin, despite TP-Link’s claim of being headquartered in the US. The decision aligns with the upcoming enforcement of new certification regulations under the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) rule next month, requiring approval before the sale of CCTV products in India. These regulations are applicable to all brands offering CCTV cameras and video surveillance products in the country.
As per a report by The Economic Times, the government’s action is part of a broader initiative to enhance security standards for connected devices. Authorities are reportedly withholding certification for products from these companies and any devices utilizing Chinese-made chipsets. Without STQC clearance, these products will essentially be excluded from the Indian market.
The prohibition will pose a significant challenge to Chinese brands that previously dominated the sector in India. While Chinese brands accounted for about one-third of CCTV sales in the country until recently, the industry landscape has rapidly evolved with the emergence of domestic manufacturers filling the market gap.
Indian brands such as CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix, and Sparsh have notably expanded their presence, leveraging non-Chinese components, predominantly Taiwanese chipsets, and localizing their firmware. According to Counterpoint Research, Indian players currently command over 80% of the market share as of February, with multinational corporations like Bosch and Honeywell maintaining dominance in the premium segment.
Indian CCTV manufacturers are expected to embrace the government’s move for business reasons. Qubo, a part of the Hero Group, has commended the government for tightening regulations concerning non-compliant internet-connected CCTV systems. Qubo’s founder, Nikhil Rajpal, expressed support, stating that the government’s actions reinforce national and personal security while endorsing Indian brands and manufacturing.
The adjustments to the CCTV camera regulations stem from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) Essential Requirements (ER) norms introduced in April 2024. These rules mandate manufacturers to disclose the origin of key components like the System-on-Chip (SoC) and ensure devices undergo testing for vulnerabilities that could permit unauthorized remote access. Companies were granted a two-year transition period to comply, resulting in over 500 CCTV models receiving certification under the new regime.