- Home
- Import and Export
- China
- Electronics
Import Electronics from China to India
Electrical machinery and equipment is the largest import line from China in the data. Electronics and IT goods fall under BIS Scheme II, the Compulsory Registration Scheme, and devices that use radio need WPC Equipment Type Approval. Both should be settled before you pay the supplier.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Electrical machinery and equipment is the largest import line from China in the data. Electronics and IT goods fall under BIS Scheme II, the Compulsory Registration Scheme, and devices that use radio need WPC Equipment Type Approval. Both should be settled before you pay the supplier.
In FY 2025-26, India's imports from China of phones, computers and chips (HS 8517, 8471 and 8542) were US$ 26,323.5 million, which is 40.0% of India's total imports of the same products (US$ 65,744.9 million), according to TradeStat.
How much does India import? FY 2025-26
| Product | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | All countries, 2025-26 (US$ million) | Share from China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 8517 | 8,605.0 | 11,790.9 | +37.0% | 21,715.6 | 54.3% |
| HS 8471 | 5,654.0 | 5,596.9 | -1.0% | 13,706.8 | 40.8% |
| HS 8542 | 8,213.5 | 8,935.8 | +8.8% | 30,322.5 | 29.5% |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
India-side licences and registrations for electronics
| Licence | Issued by | Main official fee |
|---|---|---|
| IEC code (Importer Exporter Code) | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500Checked on official page Source |
| BIS registration for imports | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) | See BIS fee pageTo confirm Source |
| WPC ETA | Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing, Department of Telecommunications | See Saral SancharTo confirm Source |
| Legal Metrology importer registration | Legal Metrology, Department of Consumer Affairs | See Legal Metrology portalTo confirm Source |
| DGFT import export licence | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹1,000Checked on official page Source |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked To confirm could not be checked on an official page.
Policy check
DGFT's 2019 list of prohibited imports bans mobile handsets (HS 8517) without an IMEI number or with an IMEI of all zeroes, and CDMA phones without an ESN or MEID. Its restricted list names broadcast transmitters, communication jamming equipment, marine radio, satellite apparatus and radar in heading 8525 and 8526.
DGFT's lists we read: restricted imports (2019), prohibited imports (2019), export schedule (2021). Current policy: DGFT policy search. HS chapter details: Chapter 85: Electrical machinery and electronics.
Trade agreement and certificate of origin
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). APTA was first signed in July 1975 and has been in force since 1 November 1976. The revised agreement was signed on 2 November 2005. India and China are both members.
Goods that meet APTA rules can carry a preferential certificate of origin (₹600). Other shipments use the non-preferential certificate (₹200).
DGFT Appendix 2A: list of Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements
Steps for this route
- Get your IEC from DGFT (IEC guide). Fee ₹500.
- Register on ICEGATE and register your bank's AD code (AD code guide).
- Ask the Chinese supplier for its BIS registration number for the product.
- Get the WPC ETA by self declaration for eligible wireless devices on Saral Sanchar.
- Make sure the IMEI is present on phones, and print the importer's details on retail packs as Legal Metrology requires.
- File the Bill of Entry on ICEGATE, pay customs duty and IGST, and clear the goods (import guide).