India’s CCTV Rules Get Tougher in 2025

India is set to raise the bar for CCTV manufacturing with new compliance regulations taking effect on April 9, 2025. Industry insiders tell asmag.com that these rules will demand strict adherence to cybersecurity, safety, and quality benchmarks.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the new mandates require all CCTV cameras to meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) safety requirements. Additionally, they must undergo Essential Requirements (ER) testing by the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC).

New Compliance Requirements

These updated standards aim to fortify CCTV systems against security vulnerabilities while simultaneously boosting domestic manufacturing under India’s Public Procurement Order (PPO).

“The Indian government’s recent regulations are designed to enhance the security and quality of CCTV systems nationwide via the Public Procurement Order (PPO) issued by MeitY,” explains Sanjeev Sehgal, Managing Director of Sparsh CCTV.

“These measures target vulnerabilities in existing surveillance infrastructures and promote local manufacturing. The new certification ensures compliance with safety and cybersecurity standards, referencing OWASP 4.0, Level 2, and the Trusted Supply Chain framework to bolster the reliability of surveillance equipment. This includes assessments of physical security, access control, network encryption, data integrity, and penetration testing to defend against cyber threats.”

Under the new framework, all existing BIS certificates will become obsolete from April 9, 2025, meaning CCTV cameras will need to be retested and certified under the updated standards. “Since CCTV cameras fall under the Compulsory Requirement Order (CRO) of MeitY, a new BIS certificate will be mandatory for selling any CCTV camera in India,” Sehgal adds.

Regulatory Enforcement and Penalties

The regulations stipulate that non-compliant CCTV models will be removed from the BIS license scope, effectively banning them from the Indian market.

“If manufacturers don’t comply, non-compliant models will be excluded from licensing, and licenses could be revoked,” warns Pramoud Rao, Managing Director of Zicon. “For now, there are no monetary penalties, but that could change in the future. Let’s embrace this opportunity for improvement.”

To ensure compliance, BIS and MeitY will conduct regular market surveillance. “Continued non-compliance may result in the cancellation of the manufacturer’s BIS license, preventing them from producing or selling CCTV cameras in India,” Sehgal cautions.

Challenges in Testing Infrastructure

Industry leaders acknowledge a potential bottleneck: a shortage of accredited testing laboratories, which could delay compliance.

“While there aren’t many qualified labs yet, more are working to establish themselves,” notes Rao. “As this field develops, I look forward to seeing progress and growth. It’s an exciting time for innovation!”

Under the new rules, STQC has been exclusively mandated for ER testing, while BIS-approved laboratories will conduct safety testing. Manufacturers will need to collaborate with these designated labs to secure compliance before the April 2025 deadline.

Industry’s Shift Toward Local Manufacturing

These regulations dovetail with India’s Make in India initiative, which has spurred increased local CCTV production.

“From the very beginning of the electronic security category, we’ve embraced international partnerships, initially sourcing from Korea, Taiwan, and China,” recalls Rao. “However, when the Indian government launched the Made in India initiative, it ignited a significant shift toward local manufacturing. Companies like Sparsh, Hikvision, CP Plus, and Trueview enthusiastically took the lead in localizing production.”

According to Rao, this shift has standardized product quality and enhanced the customer experience. “By focusing on excellence in manufacturing, we are all set to enjoy a future filled with innovation and growth, benefiting both consumers and the industry at large!”

Security Implications and Industry Adaptation

Security experts believe the updated regulations will elevate security standards across India’s surveillance industry.

“When it comes to CCTV as an industry, we generally try to keep up with evolving security standards,” says Rajiv Mathur, a security consultant.

Alignment with Global Standards

India’s new CCTV security requirements align with international norms while incorporating country-specific elements to address cybersecurity and supply chain risks.

“Most CCTV compliance standards are global. Key variables include power supply, climate conditions, affordability, and cybersecurity regulations,” Rao explains.

Sehgal points out that the STQC-ER Certification mandates cybersecurity measures, including secure boot, encrypted storage, and network authentication, aligning with standards like ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management), OWASP 4.0 Level 2, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

However, the new regulations go a step further than international standards by requiring mandatory government testing and certification.

“Unlike many global standards that focus primarily on cybersecurity and functionality, India’s new norms include a geopolitical lens, restricting surveillance hardware from certain foreign entities,” Sehgal clarifies.

Stakeholder Consultation and Industry Adaptation

MeitY engaged with industry stakeholders for over two years to develop these new standards.

“A transparent and inclusive process was utilized, with valued experts from our manufacturing industry on the technical committee, ensuring that every perspective was considered before reaching the final decision,” says Rao.

To facilitate manufacturers’ adaptation, the government extended the compliance deadline from October 2024 to April 2025.

Looking Ahead

With BIS and MeitY poised to monitor market compliance, manufacturers are working diligently to ensure their CCTV products meet the new security benchmarks before the April 2025 deadline.

“By focusing on excellence in manufacturing, we are all set to enjoy a future filled with innovation and growth, benefiting both consumers and the industry at large,” concludes Rao.