In a move aimed at strengthening the quality and security of surveillance equipment in India, the government has mandated Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) for all CCTV products effective April 9, 2025. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and enforced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), is designed to curb unregulated and low-quality imports—especially from China—while encouraging indigenous, cyber-secure alternatives.
The BIS has issued a Standard Deferment Notice, granting all CCTV manufacturers 21 days to ensure their products meet STQC compliance requirements. Companies failing to align with the mandate within the deadline will face regulatory consequences, including license suspension or cancellation. Manufacturers whose licenses are revoked will need to undergo a fresh registration process to resume operations.
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Strict Action Against Non-Compliance: BIS Warns of Market Withdrawal and Sales Halt
As part of its enforcement efforts, the BIS has clearly directed all manufacturers to halt the supply and sale of non-compliant CCTV products. Companies have been instructed to withdraw such items from warehouses, markets, distributors, and in-transit inventory. Only those who comply within the 21-day window will be allowed to retain their existing BIS registration numbers.
The STQC certification process is multi-stage, involving:
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Application submission
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Fee payment
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Product sample delivery
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Laboratory testing
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Factory inspection
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Validation and clearance
Manufacturers who have already begun the certification process and submitted their products for STQC testing will be issued approvals based on their current stage in this pipeline.
Industry Response: Sparsh CCTV Backs Indigenous Push Amidst Regulatory Pressure
Sanjeev Sehgal, Founder and Managing Director of Sparsh CCTV, expressed full support for the government’s quality and security compliance efforts. “BIS has issued notices to all manufacturers to comply with the STQC guidelines regarding the operation of their licenses,” he said. Sparsh has proactively filed multiple applications and is closely monitoring their progress to ensure timely compliance.
He further emphasized the alignment of the new mandate with the company’s vision for indigenous manufacturing. Sparsh CCTV’s Kashipur-based facility is being developed to contribute significantly to domestic value addition, reinforcing self-reliance in surveillance technology.
Highlighting the broader industry shift, Sehgal noted the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for components, introduced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, will encourage trusted sourcing, advanced R&D, and the creation of cyber-secure surveillance solutions. He projected that Sparsh could achieve up to 80% domestic value addition under the scheme.