India is preparing to bar several major Chinese video-surveillance manufacturers from selling internet-connected Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the country starting April 1, 2026.. The move marks one of the most significant overhauls of India’s surveillance-equipment regulations, aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and reducing dependence on foreign, particularly Chinese technology.
Under the new rules, any connected CCTV device sold in India must comply with stringent certification standards laid out by the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) framework. Companies such as Hikvision, Dahua and TP-Link will be directly affected, as they will be barred from selling internet-enabled cameras unless they meet India’s security and certification requirements.
The upcoming restrictions stem from the Essential Requirements (ER) issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in April 2024. These requirements mandate disclosure of the country of origin of key components, including chipsets and compulsory testing of devices for vulnerabilities that could enable unauthorised remote access.
Manufacturers were given a two-year transition period to adapt, and more than 500 CCTV models have already been certified under the new regime. Government officials have said the policy is intended to tighten oversight of surveillance equipment and ensure adherence to security norms, particularly for systems used in sensitive locations such as public infrastructure and government installations.
A major factor behind the regulation is the growing concern about cybersecurity risks associated with imported surveillance devices. Authorities have pointed to the possibility of hidden vulnerabilities, insecure firmware and the risk of remote exploitation, especially in products built on opaque supply chains.
Industry executives quoted in the Economic Times report described the move as part of the government’s efforts to enforce stricter security standards for connected devices. Many of the affected Chinese brands rely on Chinese-origin chipsets and the government has been seeking to reduce its dependence on such components.
Chinese brands accounted for roughly one-third of all CCTV sales as recently as last year, but this share has declined as domestic manufacturers have gained ground. Indian companies such as CP Plus, Qubo, Prama, Matrix, and Sparsh have expanded aggressively, redesigning their supply chains to rely on non-Chinese components, often Taiwanese chipsets and localising their firmware. According to Counterpoint Research, Indian players now control more than 80% of the CCTV market as of February, while global firms such as Bosch and Honeywell continue to dominate the premium end.
This regulatory overhaul comes at a time when India is also confronting the widespread misuse of CCTV infrastructure in disturbing ways. TNM’s ongoing investigation has uncovered a shadow market built on the trade of leaked and illegally obtained intimate images and CCTV recordings. This underground industry operates largely through anonymous channels on platforms such as Telegram, where private visuals, including footage from theatres, hospitals, and other public spaces, are circulated and sold. The TNM series documents how this ecosystem flourishes in a legal grey zone, with devastating consequences for victims whose most private moments are shared without consent.
The first part of the investigation exposed a booming trade in theatre CCTV clips, taking reporters through anonymous Telegram groups, fake profiles, and payment networks. Several leaked videos were traced back to three theatres in Kerala.
The second part revealed an equally alarming trend. The sale of hospital CCTV footage showing women in hospitals and maternity wards changing clothes, breastfeeding and undergoing vaginal examinations—videos that were leaked and distributed without the knowledge or consent of those filmed.