India is drawing a hard line on using Chinese surveillance technology. Companies like Hikvision and Dahua could effectively be locked out from selling internet-connected CCTV cameras in the country from 1st April. The move is the result of tighter rules to reshape a market that was once heavily dependent on Chinese hardware.
The trigger lies in the Essential Requirements norms introduced in April 2024. These rules gave companies two years to comply, but the bar was set deliberately high. Every CCTV model must now be certified under India’s Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification system. The government's idea is clear: security and transparency. Companies must disclose the origin of critical components like chipsets and ensure their devices are free from vulnerabilities.
For Chinese players, this has turned into a structural challenge, rather than a regulatory hurdle. Hikvision and Dahua, once dominant, are now struggling to stay relevant. Dahua is reportedly limiting itself to analogue cameras. Even consumer tech brands like Xiaomi and Realme have exited the smart home camera space altogether after failing to secure certification. This signals how difficult compliance has become under the new framework.
Domestic brands like CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix, and Sparsh are gaining ground by adapting faster. Many have shifted to Taiwanese chipsets and localised firmware to meet compliance standards. Indian players now control over 80% of the CCTV market, a sharp jump from when Chinese brands held about a third of sales just last year.
This decision is not just about geopolitics; it’s about what ends up in their homes and offices. The government is clearly mentioning security over convenience, even if it means fewer choices in the short term. India is no longer just a market for surveillance tech; it’s trying to control how this technology is built, sourced, and secured.