The regulatory frameworks governing the import of electronic and information technology goods into India have significantly tightened. On June 12, 2026, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) released two foundational directives: Instruction No. 08/2026-Customs and Instruction No. 09/2026-Customs.
These new instructions formalize strict border-level enforcement of recent Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notifications under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) Exemptions: Instruction No. 08/2026-Customs
Effective June 15, 2026, Instruction No. 08/2026-Customs governs the border enforcement of MeitY Notification S.O. 1246(E). This directive provides a precise, clear framework for when capital electronic goods can be exempted from mandatory BIS registration under the “Highly Specialized Equipment” (HSE) classification.
Specific Exemption Thresholds & Technical Benchmarks
To successfully qualify for a MeitY HSE exemption at the customs port, the imported goods must be restricted to an import/manufacturing volume of less than 100 units per model per year. Additionally, the equipment must definitively meet at least one of the following four physical or electrical parameters:
- Three-Phase Power: Systems built to operate solely on a three-phase power supply.
- High-Amp Single-Phase Power: Equipment utilizing a single-phase power supply where the current rating strictly exceeds 16 Amperes.
- Dimensional Minimums: Large-scale systems with physical dimensions exceeding 1.5 meters x 0.8 meters.
- Weight Thresholds: Heavy industrial or enterprise electronics with a total net weight exceeding 80 Kilograms.
Compulsory Registration for Standalone HDDs: Instruction No. 09/2026-Customs
Addressing data infrastructure components, Instruction No. 09/2026-Customs implements MeitY Notification S.O. 2204(E). This regulation expands the scope of the Compulsory Registration Order by replacing the entry at Serial No. 50 of the schedule with the broader term: “Standalone Hard Disk Drives”.
Timelines, Standard Formatting, and Key Exclusions
Enforcement Deadline:
For all applicable standalone HDDs (including enterprise internal drives and data center storage arrays), compliance with the Compulsory Registration Order becomes legally mandatory on November 5, 2026.
Applicable Quality Standard:
All covered storage drives must satisfy the safety mandates of IS 13252: Part 1: 2010 (Information technology equipment – safety part 1 general requirements).
Exclusion for USB External Drives:
The instruction explicitly notes that USB Type External Hard Disk Drives are excluded from this specific transition timeline and remain governed under pre-existing notified provisions.
Immediate Action Plan for Corporate Compliance Teams
As the CBIC updates ICEGATE screening systems to match these instructions, shipments lacking the correct technical declarations will face immediate operational bottlenecks. Importers must act proactively:
- Execute Technical Documentation Audits: Review engineering datasheets for high-value enterprise machinery. Ensure power, weight, and dimensional metrics are clearly visible on manufacturer specifications to support HSE exemption claims.
- Engage Global OEMs for HDD Certification: For businesses relying on internal or specialized hard drives, engage overseas supply chains immediately to ensure BIS registration protocols under IS 13252 are finalized well before the November 5, 2026 cutoff.
- Coordinate with Customs Brokers: Ensure your filing teams are briefed on these precise instructions to eliminate misclassification risks during the customs declaration process.
Trade Advisory & Compliance Support
Consult MCS ExpertsMundhra Consulting Services delivers institutional-grade advisory across customs protocols, foreign trade policies, and MeitY Import Compliance/BIS statutory licensing. Our trade desk conducts comprehensive structural risk reviews to protect your cross-border supply chain from regulatory friction.
