Govt to issue end-to-end digital authorisation for IT Hardware imports

India is implementing a new “authorisation” system for imports of laptops, tablets, and personal computers, with the goal of monitoring such shipments without affecting market availability, according to government authorities.

The new “import management system” goes into force on November 1 and requires enterprises to register the number and value of imports, but the government will not reject any import requests and will instead utilize the data for monitoring, according to officials.

Its goal is “to ensure that all of this provides us with the kind of data and information we need to ensure that we have a completely trusted digital system,” according to S. Krishnan, the ministry’s senior bureaucrat.

The decision provides solace to major laptop manufacturers like as Dell, HP, Apple, Samsung, and Lenovo, which were alarmed by the unexpected announcement of a licensing regime in August.

On August 3, India implemented a license regime on laptop and tablet imports, but immediately reversed its decision in response to industry and US government criticism.

To secure India’s trusted supply chain, the new license regime applies to laptops, personal computers (including tablet computers), microcomputers, large or mainframe computers, and some data processing machines.

That idea would have given the government the authority to refuse import requests while demanding a license for each shipment.

Policy Circular issued by DGFT in respect of the implementation.

In this regard, the following clarifications are provided:

i. Reference SEZ Rule 27 and Para 6.01(d) of the FTP 2023, SEZ units and EOUs/EHTP/STPI/BTP are not required to obtain a ‘restricted import authorisation’ for import of IT hardware restricted vide Notification 23/2023 dated 03.08.2023. The given exemption is allowed only for the captive consumption of the concerned importing
unit(s).

ii. There are no import restrictions on spares, parts, assemblies, sub-assemblies, components, and other inputs necessary for the IT hardware devices as specified under Notification 23/2023 dated 03.08.2023.

iii. Notified IT hardware items essential for Capital Goods are exempt from import licensing requirements. For instance, laptops/tablets accompanying machinery such as MRI machines, CNC machines, Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs), etc., are examples of allowed exemptions. However, if servers or laptops etc. themselves are the primary
capital goods, this exemption does not apply.

For Official Circular Download PDF Given Below: