Wed Sep 25 09:09:27 UTC 2024: ## India Extends Laptop & Tablet Import Monitoring System, New Approvals Needed From 2025

**New Delhi, India:** India has extended its import management system for laptops and tablets until the end of the year. This system, implemented in November 2023, requires companies to register their import quantities and values with the government. However, starting from January 1, 2025, companies will need to apply for fresh approvals to import these devices, according to a government notification issued on Tuesday.

The government has stated that detailed guidelines for the new approval process will be released shortly. This move follows India’s reversal of a previous plan to impose a licensing regime on laptop and tablet imports, which had faced criticism from industry stakeholders and the United States.

India’s decision to extend the monitoring system and introduce a new approval process is seen as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy to promote local manufacturing and build a reliable domestic supply chain for electronics. India remains heavily reliant on imports for these products.

While the US government had lobbied against the earlier licensing policy, expressing concerns about potential trade restrictions and compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, India’s repeated delays in implementing import restrictions suggest the US concerns have had some influence.

India’s laptop and personal computer imports between April and July this year totaled $1.7 billion. The government has also been working to encourage domestic production through a federal subsidy scheme for laptops, tablets, and personal computers.

This latest development raises questions about the long-term impact on the import landscape for these devices and how the new approval process will be implemented. Industry players will be closely watching for further details from the government.

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