India imposes import restrictions on laptops, tablets, computers & servers

• Imports of laptops, computers and more would now require a licence.
• There is an exception to only one such item as a part of baggage rules.
• Reliance Retail recently launched its budget laptop named JioBook.
  

The Indian government imposed restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, personal computers and servers, says a government notification released on Thursday.

All these imports will be restricted with immediate effect, the notification by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) says. Any imports hereon will require a licence, and an exemption will be provided to only one such item per consignment, with the exception of servers.

People who travel can bring in one such item with them in their baggage. The said restriction shall not be applicable to Imports under baggage rules, as amended from time-to-time exemption from import licencing requirements is provided for Import of one laptop, tablet, all-in-one personal computer, or ultra small form factor computer, including those purchased from e-commerce portals, through post or courier, the notification said.

The import licence also has an exemption for up to 20 items per consignment — when used for R&D, testing, benchmarking and evaluation, repair and re-export, product development purposes.

“Given imports shall be allowed subject to condition that the imported goods shall be used for the stated purposes only and will not be sold. Further, after the intended purpose, the products would either be destroyed beyond use or re-exported,” the notification said.

“Restricted imports shall not be required for repair and return of said items. Laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and ultra-small form factor computers and servers which are an essential part of a capital good shall be exempted from the import licencing requirements,” government said.

One of India’s largest retailers, Reliance Retail, has recently launched its home-grown laptop, named JioBook. The budget laptop is priced at ₹16,499 apiece.

(This is a developing story and will be updated.)