NEW DELHI: After security checks on CCTVs, govt may expand the “trusted source” mandate to other segments – including smart meters, parking sensors, drone parts and even laptops and desktops – as it seeks to address growing concerns over Chinese imports and fears of threat following vulnerabilities noticed in the pager supply chain that was exploited by Israel against Hezbollah militants.
The CCTV mandate targeted to restrict imports from China, which accounts for most of the equipment, is set to kick in this month, and other segments are sought to be included in a calibrated way. The commerce department recently expanded the import monitoring system for laptops and computers until Dec and may come back with a mandate to impose curbs later, sources indicated.
The idea is to keep a close tab on devices that are part of Internet of Things, which are connected and there are fears that data may be accessible to firms and agencies across India’s northern borders.
As a result, checks on cameras, which now require mandatory certification by designated labs, came after gaps were noticed in the security framework in surveillance cameras. Some of the key components will need to be certified by the agencies before they can be used by Indian or other manufacturers, sources explained.
Under the scanner is “system on a chip” or SoC, which is an integrated circuit (IC) that combines most, if not all, components of an electronic system onto a single chip.
“The idea is to build a trusted supply chain for electronic goods as we do not want any weak links that can be tapped by foreign firms given that we are in a hostile neighbourhood,” a source said.
The change in stance from a tariff wall to a technical specification has been necessitated by the govt conceding policy space under WTO’s IT Agreement-I (ITA-I). Besides, Chinese companies, which make the devices cheap, could have scaled the tariff wall and still controlled the majority of the market.
Also, like the stipulation for CCTVs, which was first implemented for govt procurement, before being extended to the retail market, have helped Indian sellers prepare for the transition and develop the required supply chain to ensure compliance.
This has emerged as a key learning given that the PC & laptop industry had last year sought to scuttle the govt’s import checks on the grounds that the move would result in a short supply and push up prices, impacting consumers.