The Indian government has clarified that there are no immediate plans to impose additional import restrictions on electronic goods. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal emphasized that while they are monitoring imports and aiming to reduce undue dependence on specific countries, there is no proposal in the works as of now.
Barthwal highlighted the importance of diversifying both exports and imports to avoid overreliance on a few sources. He mentioned that the government wants to ensure that the country does not become overly dependent on a handful of countries for imports. This strategy aligns with India’s broader goal of boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing imports, particularly from nations like China.
The government’s efforts to boost domestic manufacturing are exemplified by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics and mobile manufacturing. This initiative aims to incentivize manufacturers to produce electronic goods within India, thereby reducing the need for imports.
The government had already imposed import curbs on laptops, personal computers, and certain other electronic devices from November 1 to promote indigenous production. However, at present, there are no immediate plans to extend import restrictions to other electronic goods.
In a recent parliamentary session, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, highlighted the significant growth in domestic electronic goods production. He stated that domestic production had more than doubled from ₹3.88 lakh crore in 2017-18 to ₹8.25 lakh crore in 2022-23, thanks to government initiatives and industry efforts.
Chandrasekhar also addressed the semiconductor market, noting that it has experienced growth proportional to the electronics manufacturing sector. He pointed out that India imported semiconductor chips worth ₹1,29,703 crore in FY 2022-23 due to the absence of commercial fabs (semiconductor manufacturing facilities) in the country.
While there are no immediate plans for further import restrictions, the government remains committed to fostering domestic manufacturing and reducing imports in the electronics sector through strategic initiatives like the PLI scheme.