Commerce Ministry opens applications for registration to import IT hardware

The registration plan comes after the Centre decided to delay the requirement of licenses for such imports

The Commerce Ministry's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has opened applications for registering companies wishing to import IT hardware such as laptops and tablets, The Economic Times (ET) reported on Wednesday. The registration initiative follows the Centre's decision to postpone the licence requirement for such imports. 

The ET report, quoting officials familiar with the details, stated that registration applications would be approved within one week of submission. Companies must supply information such as the volume and value of imports and domestic manufacturing figures for the past three years. 

The registration will be valid from November 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, and will apply at all ports across the country. Starting October 1, import quotas may be introduced. A previous report by Bloomberg indicated that the size of each company's quota would be determined by its local production, import of IT hardware, and exports of such products from India.

Furthermore, companies may suggest alterations to the registration process. 

On August 3, the Centre introduced a licensing regime to ensure that only "trusted hardware and systems" enter India. The initiative also seeks to reduce reliance on imports, bolster local manufacturing, and partially address the nation's trade imbalance with China. The Centre stated that imports would be restricted with immediate effect.

Subsequently, following industry objections, the plan was postponed for three months. Current reports indicate that the implementation may be further delayed until at least September of the following year.

Last week, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, noted that the Centre aims to fulfil up to 70 per cent of the country's IT hardware needs through local production within the next three years, reducing dependence on untrustworthy sources.

As many as 40 firms, including Dell, HP and Lenovo, have applied for the IT hardware Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, committing to manufacture personal computers, laptops, tablets, servers and other equipment worth Rs 4.65 trillion during the scheme period.

Subsequent reports indicate that around 30 of the initial 40 applicants have qualified for the Rs 17,000-crore PLI scheme.