India Restricts Imports Of Laptops, PCs

India has placed restrictions on the import of computers and laptops in a surprise move from the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has been trying to encourage domestic manufacturing in the tech sector, Rhea Mogul reported for CNN.

Photo Insert: Importers will now need to apply for licenses in order to bring laptops, tablets, personal computers (PCs), and other electronic devices into the country.

Importers will now need to apply for licenses in order to bring laptops, tablets, personal computers (PCs), and other electronic devices into the country, a notice issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said.

Previously, the import of such items was unrestricted.

The ministry didn’t provide a reason for the change in rules, even as Modi has aggressively pushed his “Make in India” campaign, which promotes local manufacturing in a bid to create more jobs.

It follows a similar curb on smart TV imports in 2020. India’s electronic imports stood at $19.7 billion in the April to June period, up 6.25% from the same period in 2022, Reuters reported.

India’s push to manufacture locally comes at a crucial time for the world’s most populous nation as companies look beyond China to secure crucial supply chains. India’s working-age population is expected to hit one billion over the next decade, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic