The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced an extension of the existing Import Management System (IMS) for laptops, PCs, and tablets until December 31, 2024. The IMS allows for the free import of these items without restrictions. However, from January 1, 2025, importers will need to apply for new authorizations, with detailed guidelines to be issued by the DGFT in the near future.
The circular States that importers will be required to seek fresh authorizations starting from January 2025, based on the forthcoming detailed guidance.
Previously, the IMS was set to expire on September 30, 2024, but this extension now gives manufacturers whose authorisations were valid until the end of September an extended window until the year’s end.
Industry players, including major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Lenovo, have expressed concerns about the future import authorisation scheme. Kumar Deep Banerjee, Country Director of the ITI Council, welcomed the extension but called for more clarity on the new system set to take effect in 2025, urging robust stakeholder consultation.
In August 2023, the Indian government had announced restrictions on the free import of laptops and similar products, requiring import licenses to promote domestic manufacturing and secure a trusted supply chain. However, after opposition from global tech companies, the restrictions were rolled back, with the free import window extended until September 2024, and now, further extended to December 2024.
