Curbs on PC, laptop imports: 3-month breather set to light up Diwali season

According to a government notification, import consignments can be cleared until October 31 without a licence and a government permit would be required for the clearance of imports from November 1

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) heaved a sigh of relief after the government decided to delay the licensing mandate for the import of personal computers by nearly three months. With this, import restrictions are not expected to dampen PC (including laptops, desktops, notebooks, and workstations) shipments ahead of the upcoming festival season.

The licensing mandate for imports of PCs is now effective from November 1. Still, the government’s move will increase the compliance burden on original equipment manufacturers, affecting certain companies more than others.

Following Thursday’s notification (which was to be implemented with immediate effect), companies such as HP, Apple, and