India will tighten controls by restricting the sale of CCTV cameras by several Chinese companies in the country. The changes are part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen national security and reduce cybersecurity threats. They will be implemented nationwide from April 1, 2026.
What happened?
Starting April 1, all networked CCTV cameras sold in India will have to be licensed under the Ministry of Electronics and Communications’ Standardized Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) framework. As part of the new guidelines, companies selling connected CCTV cameras in India will have to disclose information about key equipment used in CCTV cameras, including the source of the system-on-chip (SoC) or processor.
Media reports also indicate that the STQC framework will test CCTV cameras on various parameters, including encryption technology, source of hardware used in the device, firmware and tamper resistance. Apart from this, internet-connected CCTV cameras will also be tested to check if their data can be accessed remotely.
It is worth mentioning that even devices assembled in India must pass this test, and products that fail to pass the license will not be allowed to be legally sold in India.
Which CCTV camera brands are affected by this change?
The new regulation will affect CCTV cameras from well-known Chinese companies such as Hikvision, TP-Link and Dahua Technology. These companies previously held a majority share of the CCTV camera market in India.
What happens to my CCTV cameras?
There are reports that the government will not confiscate existing networked CCTV cameras in use across the country. Cameras already in use by users, including homeowners and business owners, won’t stop working either. However, this change may affect future software updates and after-sales services.
Will CCTV cameras in India become expensive?
Along with China’s CCTV camera rebranding strategy, Indian CCTV camera brands such as CP Plus, Prama, Quobo, Matrix and Sparsh have also increased their production efforts and currently occupy nearly 80% of the market share. However, rising compliance costs and a reduction in the number of suppliers are expected to increase prices for buyers, especially in the mid- to high-end market.
