Mobiles, TVs, LEDs get costlier as Centre pushes for indigenisation

New Delhi: In order to boost the “Make-in-India” initiative, the Centre on Friday hiked import duties on smartphones, television sets, microwave and LED lamps among other electronic items.

The duty on imported smartphones, which has been hiked to 15 per cent,  will act as a blow to Apple’s ambition as they are currently in negotiation over duty relief.

However, Samsung is unlikely to be affected as it assembles most of its handsets in the country.

“Indian industry does not want protection in the long term it is only to mitigate the short-term disruption,” said Indian Cellular Association, president Pankaj Mohindroo.

He that in last 5-6 months import of feature phones had short up, which among others may also be due to dumping.

While TV sets and microwave ovens saw their customs duty double to 20 per cent, video recording equipment as well as TV cameras recorded a 5 per cent jump to 15 per cent.

Import duty on set top boxes too been doubled to 20 per cent.

Also, customs duty on lamps and lighting fittings including searchlights and chandeliers has been doubled to 20 per cent while the same on electricity meters has been increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.  

Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) president and Panasonic India CEO Manish Sharma said that the association had been pushing the government to increase the basic customs duty for completely built unit imported into the country which in turn will benefit the overall domestic industry.

“Further to this significant development, local manufacturing will grow, giving the much-needed impetus to the Make-in-India vision. This shall not lead to major price hike as the duty structure for local manufacturing remains unchanged, but will boost indigenous manufacturing & generate more employment opportunities,” he said.