Dahua cameras banned in india: India is going to ban internet-connected CCTV cameras from big Chinese vendors like Dahua, TP-Link and Hikvision starting from April 1, 2026. This mandate has been provided for in the new rules stipulated under the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) rules that will come into effect starting next month. These rules make it mandatory for vendors to get an approval before they can sell CCTV products in India. These rules are applicable across all brands that sell video surveillance devices or CCTV cameras in India.
A report by Economic Times, citing industry executives, suggests that this move is a part of a broader strategy to strengthen security standards for such devices. Reports suggest that authorities have denied granting certification to Chinese brands like the ones named above and also firms that utilise any sort of Chinese-origin chipsets. Now each product would require STQC clearance in order to make it into the market in India.
Chinese Foothold In The Indian Market
This ban will stagger Chinese brands that have a dominant foothold in the Indian market. Reports suggest that Chinese brands hold a lion's share of CCTV market sales in India, with at least one-third share. But this is a changing paradigm as local manufacturers have entered the game as well, and this ban on Chinese-origin products will give a much-needed boost to indigenous manufacturers.
What Are The Rules?
The updated CCTV regulations trace back to the Essential Requirements (ER) framework rolled out by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in April 2024. Under these norms, manufacturers must clearly declare the origin of critical components like the system-on-chip (SoC), while also ensuring their devices pass security testing to eliminate risks such as unauthorised remote access.
To ease the shift, companies were provided a two-year window to align with these requirements. As of now, over 500 CCTV models have already received certification under this framework.
Indian Brands To Fill The Void
This new ban will create some space in the otherwise Chinese-brand-dominated market, and Indian brands like CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix and Sparsh have been scaling up. These firms have bid farewell to Chinese chips and components that have now been replaced by Taiwanese chipsets, and the firmware has been localised. A report by Counterpoint Research sheds light on the market share of these companies, and as of February 2026, these players account for an 80% share in the market, but the premium segment still remains in the hands of brands like Bosch and Honeywell. The move is likely to be welcomed by local manufacturers and businesses.
Localisation To Boost Make in India
This move also aids India's long-term push for Make in India, as with this, local manufacturers will get to establish themselves. It is also beneficial for the Indian market ecosystem in the long term as indigenous manufacturing takes over and dependency shifts away from Chinese brands.
While speaking to The Daily Jagran, Nikhil Rajpal, CEO of Qubo, expressed his appreciation towards the move and said, "We welcome the government's move to tighten the net around non-compliant, internet-connected CCTV systems. This isn't just a policy shift; it is a critical step towards strengthening national & personal security while also delivering a strong vote of confidence in favor of Indian brands & manufacturing."
What Happens To Core Infrastructure Already Using It?
For now it is not certain if this is a phased ban or immediate cut, but the core infrastructure and enterprises that have deployed the tech might still get to use it. CCTV systems used in airports, government buildings, transport hubs, etc. might find themselves in the strictest scrutiny, as these belong to public infrastructure. With the rules taking effect from 1 April, such enterprises will be able to procure surveillance equipment that is STQC certified only. With this new rule, future upgrades will also have to pass the STQC certification to get inside the Indian market.
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What Happens To Market Prices?
This move, as early reports suggest, is expected to translate into a price rise for such CCTV-related products, but in turn we can also expect reduced competition in the market as dominant Chinese brands that dump goods and are aggressively priced will be eliminated, especially in the budget segment. But consumers might have to adjust for a slight price adjustment as the transition takes place.