Make in India: Challenges & Prospects

No restriction on Laptop Imports: Centre

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NA

Mains level: Laptop Imports Ban

Central Idea

  • In August, the centre announced its intention to subject laptops, tablets, computers, and related products to a licensing regime starting from November 1.
  • However, it has now clarified that India will not impose licensing requirements on laptop and computer imports but will instead monitor their inbound shipments.

Lapop Import Restrictions: A Backgrounder

  • Import Restrictions: In August, India imposed import restrictions on various IT hardware products to promote domestic manufacturing and reduce imports, particularly from countries like China.
  • Industry Concerns: The IT hardware industry expressed concerns following the initial licensing announcement.
  • Security and Domestic Manufacturing: The government cited security concerns and the desire to stimulate domestic manufacturing as the reasons for the licensing conditions.

Import Statistics

  • Import Values: India imports approximately $7-8 billion worth of IT hardware products annually.
  • Recent Trends: Import values for personal computers, including laptops, decreased from $7.37 billion in 2021-22 to $5.33 billion in 2022-23. Imports of certain data processing machines also saw a decline.
  • Production-Linked Incentive Scheme: In May, the government approved the Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware with a budgetary outlay of ₹17,000 crore. A similar scheme for IT hardware was approved in February 2021.

India’s Dependency on China

  • Critical Dependency: According to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India has significant dependency on China for various products, including laptops and mobile phones.
  • Government Initiatives: To reduce this dependency, the government has introduced measures such as the production-linked incentive scheme and increased customs duties on electronic components.

Conclusion

  • India’s decision to shift from a licensing regime to monitoring for laptop and computer imports aims to balance its goals of reducing import dependency and promoting domestic manufacturing.
  • However, there is a need to ensure smoother transition for businesses and trade.

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