A new regime for laptop imports without a licensing framework is set to be announced by the Indian government. The emphasis will be on sourcing from trusted locations and providing incentives for those making laptops locally or using India as an export base. The government maintains that its policies conform to WTO commitments. The aim is to establish an absolute trusted supply chain for India’s digital ecosystem. The government has taken into account concerns raised by the laptop and server industry about previous proposals for a licensing regime. Consequently, there will be no mandated restrictions on the movement of devices. The new import management system has been developed by considering inputs from the industry and with the involvement of the commerce as well as IT and electronics ministries.

Several global companies, including Apple and Samsung, have expressed concerns about import restrictions and a licensing regime. They believe that these measures would disrupt supplies and drive up prices.