Lok Sabha Question No. 3307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Import of Phones & TV
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3307

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## IMPORT OF PHONES & TV

## 3307      SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  revised  a  decision  to  bring  the  import  of  displays  and  camera modules in licensing regime against free imports which is a big relief to manufacturers of mobile phones and television;
- (b) if so, whether a meeting to this effect was recently held between the Ministries of Electronics & Information Technology, Finance and Commerce and Industry;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  aforesaid  decision  of  the  Government  is  likely  to  help  domesticmanufacturers  of aforesaid items and help in Make in India programme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)and  (d):  Yes,  Sir,  Government  of  India's  goal  is  to  make  India  a  significant  design  and manufacturing  hub  in  the  Global  Value  Chain  for  Electronics  as  part  of  its  AtmaNirbhar  Bharat economic policies. As part of this, we are broadening and deepening our electronic manufacturing ecosystem.Mobile Phones, IT hardware, Television sets are a few thrust areas wherein Government is promoting domestic manufacturing. The flat panel modules and camera modules are an essential part for manufacturing of the Mobile Phones, Television Sets, Notebook, Tablet Computers, All-inOne PCs etc.

The  Indian  Trade  Classification-Harmonized  System  (ITC-HS),  2022  Schedule-1(Import  Policy) was notified in sync with the Finance Act, 2021 vide Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09.02.2022 indicating import policy for enlisted items. Subsequently, based  on  inputs  received  from  industry,  the  Import  Policy  for  flat  panel  modules  and  camera modules for specific ITC(HS) codes under 8524 and 8525 was revised to 'Free' vide Notification 55/2015-20 dated 24.02.2022 to provide big relief to manufacturers and help domestic manufacturing  of  aforesaid  items.  This  bolsters  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister's  vision  of  Atmanirbhar Bharat  promoting  domestic  manufacturing  of  electronic  products.  A  copy  of  the  notification  is placed at Annexure A.

(b)and  (c):  Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  held  meeting  with  industry associations  and  representatives  on  import  policy  for  flat  panel  modules  and  display  modules.

Subsequently,  meeting  was  held  on  22 nd February,2022  between  Ministry  of  Electronics  & Information  Technology  (MeitY);  Department  of  Revenue  ,    Ministry  of  Finance  and  DGFT, Department of Commerce  to deliberate on the import policy provision of  ITC  -HS codes newly inserted in schedule-I of ITC(HS)-2022. In the meeting, DGFT was requested  to review the policy conditions for aforesaid items. These deliberations paved way for the policy decisions that in-turn continue to expand domestic manufacturing of Mobile Phones & Television Sets.

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