Key Points
- Mandatory Certification: Starting April 1, 2026, all internet-connected CCTV cameras must have STQC certification to be sold legally in India.
- Chinese Brands Excluded: Authorities are reportedly refusing to certify products from major Chinese firms or any devices utilizing Chinese-origin chipsets.
- Domestic Dominance: Indian brands now control over 80 percent of the market, with CP Plus leading at a nearly 50 percent share.
- Security Standards: New rules require full disclosure of component origins and rigorous testing against unauthorized remote access.
- Economic Impact: The shift to non-Chinese components, such as Taiwanese and US chipsets, has led to a 15,20 percent rise in manufacturing costs for high-end models.
On April 1, 2026, India will implement a landmark regulatory shift in its surveillance sector, effectively barring major Chinese video surveillance companies from the market. Under the new Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) rules, every internet-connected CCTV camera and related hardware must receive government approval before it can be sold. This move follows the conclusion of a two-year transition window provided by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under its Essential Requirements (ER) norms introduced in 2024.
According to industry reports, the government has taken a firm stance by refusing to grant certifications to devices manufactured by Chinese firms like Hikvision, Dahua, and TP-Link. Crucially, the restriction extends to any surveillance hardware powered by Chinese-origin chipsets or System-on-Chip (SoC) components. Without this mandatory STQC clearance, these products are legally prohibited from the Indian market, marking a decisive end to the era of Chinese dominance in India’s security infrastructure.
The Rise of “Make in India” Surveillance
The regulatory environment has already triggered a dramatic transformation in market dynamics. Just two years ago, Chinese brands accounted for roughly one-third of all CCTV sales in the country. However, as of February 2026, domestic manufacturers have aggressively filled the void. Indian brands such as CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix, and Sparsh now collectively control more than 80 percent of the market.
CP Plus has emerged as the clear leader, nearly doubling its market share to approximately 45,50% by localizing its firmware and reworking its supply chain to rely on non-Chinese components. While the mainstream market is now firmly in Indian hands, the premium and enterprise segments continue to be served by global multinationals like Bosch and Honeywell, which have met the stringent new security criteria.
Security Protocols and Manufacturing Costs
The primary driver behind these new regulations is the need to mitigate cybersecurity risks. The MeitY ER norms require manufacturers to undergo rigorous testing to ensure devices are free from vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized remote access or data breaches. Companies must now provide absolute transparency regarding the country of origin for every critical component in their hardware.
While the move has been hailed by security experts and domestic manufacturers, it has introduced new economic challenges. The transition to more expensive components, specifically chipsets sourced from Taiwan and the United States, has increased the bill of materials for mid-range and premium cameras by an estimated 15,20 percent. However, industry analysts note that prices at the lower end of the retail market have remained relatively stable as Indian firms scale up production and deepen backward integration, ensuring that the shift toward a more secure surveillance ecosystem remains accessible to the general public.
