Is Hikvision Banned in India in 2026? The Short, Sourced Answer
No Indian order bans Hikvision by name (checked 14 Oct 2026). Since 1 April 2026, MeitY's OM of 16 Jan 2026 bars the sale of IP CCTV cameras that fail its security Essential Requirements (ER); analogue cameras are exempt. On BIS's ER list, Hikvision's registration covers 376 analogue models and zero ER-compliant IP cameras. No order requires removing installed cameras.
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026
Verified against
- MeitY Office Memorandum W-18/26/2025-IPHW, dated 16.01.2026, withdrawing the old-stock relaxation (PDF on crsbis.in)
- MeitY S.O. 1652(E), 9 Apr 2024, adding the CCTV ER to the Compulsory Registration Order 2021 (egazette 2024/253632)
- BIS Registration Department circular, 01 Apr 2025, "Non-applicability of Security ER to Analog CCTV Cameras" (PDF)
- MeitY circular W-18/26/2025-IPHW, 04.02.2026, on PPP-MII testing for CCTV (PDF on stqc.gov.in)
- DPIIT, Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017, revision dated 19 July 2024 (copy hosted by DoT)
- PIB, Ministry of Finance, "Restrictions on Public Procurement from certain countries", 23 Jul 2020 (PIB 1640778)
- Prama India Pvt Ltd, MGT-7 FY2024-25, and Prama Hikvision India Pvt Ltd, MGT-7 FY2022-23 (shareholding only)
- BIS, List of Registrations and models of CCTVs complying with ER for Security (crsbis.in), read 14 Oct 2026
- STQC, IoTSCS certified product list as per the ERs (stqc.gov.in), read 14 Oct 2026
- Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- Foreign rules (USA, UK) are out of scope here.
What each rule actually does
| Rule (date) | Who it binds | What it does | Names a brand? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRO ER for CCTV, S.O. 1652(E) (notified 9 Apr 2024; in effect 9 Apr 2025) | Manufacturers registering cameras with BIS | Adds "Essential Requirement(s) for CCTV" to S. No. 41, alongside IS 13252 (Part 1):2010 | No | S.O. 1652(E); in-effect date per MeitY circular 04.02.2026 |
| MeitY OM (16 Jan 2026; effective 1 Apr 2026) | Every sale in India | "no sale of any CCTV cameras, which do not conform to ERs ... shall be allowed from 01st April, 2026 onwards" | No | MeitY OM |
| Analogue carve-out (MeitY 12 Mar 2025, per BIS circular 1 Apr 2025) | Analogue cameras | The Security ER Order "is not applicable on Analog CCTV Cameras"; IS 13252 safety testing still applies | No | BIS circular |
| PPP-MII for CCTV (in effect 7 Jun 2024) | Government "procuring entities" only | Local-content rules plus an STQC security test report, valid 3 years | No | MeitY circular 04.02.2026; DPIIT 2024 |
| GFR land-border order (23 Jul 2020) | Public procurement | A bidder from a country sharing a land border with India must register with a DPIIT committee | No (names no country or company) | PIB 1640778 |
None of these five texts mentions Hikvision, Dahua or any other company (read 14 Oct 2026). The word "ban" comes from press coverage, not from an order.
Where Hikvision stands on the official lists
The legal question turns on three list facts (checked 14 Oct 2026):
- BIS: one registration, R-71004456, held by PRAMA HIKVISION INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, Registered to 17 Jul 2031. It lists 376 analogue models and 0 in the Security-ER column. No Hikvision DS-2CD… IP model and no Dahua row appears anywhere on the BIS ER list.
- STQC: 0 of 53 ER certificate entries name Hikvision or Dahua (STQC ER list).
- China-based makers: the 5 BIS R-numbers with country "China" (Dongguan Meisen ×3, Hangzhou Xizhi, Qualvision) are all Registered, and all list 0 ER models.
The practical reading: Hikvision analogue (HD-over-coax) cameras on that R-number can still be sold legally, because analogue cameras are outside the security ER. A Hikvision-branded IP camera cannot be newly sold in India unless its exact model appears in the ER column. As of 14 Oct 2026, none does. That is a certification gap, not a named ban. If a model gets certified later, it can be sold. Every other brand's status is in the A–Z of BIS-registered CCTV brands.
Prama-branded cameras sit under a different registrant, Prama India Private Limited, with its own ER models. The filings of the two companies differ: Prama India's annual return shows two Indian individuals holding 100% at 31 Mar 2025 (MGT-7 FY2024-25), while Prama Hikvision India's latest published return names Hangzhou Hikvision as a 58% holding company at 31 Mar 2023 (MGT-7 FY2022-23).
What is NOT banned
- Owning or using installed cameras. Both the OM and the CRO govern registration and sale. Neither text puts any duty on a factory to remove cameras it already owns. Details: Do I have to replace my CCTV in 2026?
- Private purchases from Chinese-origin bidders. PIB's 23 Jul 2020 release on the land-border order says: "It does not apply to procurement by the private sector."
- A private factory under PPP-MII. DPIIT defines a "procuring entity" as a central ministry or department, its attached or subordinate offices, autonomous bodies it controls, and Government companies. A private company is none of these.
- Small government buys. DPIIT's 2024 revision exempts purchases under ₹5 lakh from PPP-MII, and the purchase must not be split to get under that limit.
- Analogue cameras. They need only the IS 13252 test report, per the BIS circular of 1 Apr 2025.
What it means for a factory owner
| Situation | Rule that applies | Legal position (14 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Hikvision IP cameras already installed | None of the five texts above | No text orders removal; the OM and the CRO govern sale and registration |
| Buying new IP cameras in 2026 | MeitY OM of 16 Jan 2026 | A seller may sell only models in the ER column (finder) |
| Replacing a failed Hikvision IP camera | Same OM | Treated as a new purchase; the like-for-like Hikvision IP model is not ER-listed |
| Hikvision analogue cameras on a DVR | BIS circular of 1 Apr 2025 | Sale allowed for models in the analogue column |
| Supplying cameras to a PSU or government buyer | PPP-MII; land-border order | STQC report and bidder registration apply; the tender text governs |
Your real choices for an existing estate (keep, add AI, or replace) are set out in Hikvision and Dahua cameras in 2026: keep, add AI or replace?. The certified brands are compared in Hikvision and Dahua alternatives, and the full split between the three instruments is in STQC ER vs BIS CRS vs PPO.
What breaks in a factory
- Spares. After a surge or lightning strike, the installer's usual replacement may no longer be sellable. Keep a list of model strings and check each one with the certificate checker before the next breakdown.
- Mixed analogue and IP. A plant with turbo cameras on DVRs and IP cameras on NVRs is under two different rules. Get the installer to label which is which.
- Dealer "ban" quotes. A quote that replaces every camera because of a "ban" goes beyond what the orders say. Ask which clause requires it.
When to call the installer / what to ask the vendor
Ask in writing, for each camera you buy: the exact model string, the BIS R-number, and confirmation that the model is in the Security ER column (or the analogue column, for analogue cameras). For any government-linked order, ask for the STQC report date and the tender's own clause list.
Cameras are only worth keeping or buying if someone uses what they see. Mama reads a factory's existing cameras over RTSP or ONVIF, Hikvision included, and tells the owner each morning where machines stood idle. Leave an email or phone in the form below.
FAQ
Is Hikvision banned in India? Asked repeatedly on techenclave. No order names Hikvision (checked 14 Oct 2026). From 1 Apr 2026, IP cameras need Security ER compliance to be sold. Hikvision has no IP model on BIS's ER list, but its analogue models remain registered until 17 Jul 2031.
Can I keep using my Hikvision cameras after April 2026? Yes. MeitY's OM of 16 Jan 2026 stops sales of non-ER cameras. It does not require anyone to remove installed ones. Firmware updates and network separation are still good practice.
Are Chinese CCTV cameras banned from sale in India? This question came up on techenclave when the rule took effect. The orders do not name a country. They require ER compliance for IP cameras. On 14 Oct 2026, the five BIS registrations held by three China-based manufacturers listed only analogue models and no ER-compliant ones. Press reports link this to chipset origin.