India has amended its compulsory registration requirements for Standalone Hard Disk Drives and other electronic goods, effective from November 5, 2026, under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021.
India Expands Hard Disk Drive Registration Requirements
Importers and manufacturers must register standalone HDDs by a new deadline.
What changed
Standalone HDDs added to the compulsory registration schedule.
Safety standard IS 13252: Part 1: 2010 now applies to these drives.
Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) may be exempt from registration if volume is under 100 units/year.
Deadline extended for certain specialized equipment to July 26, 2026.
Who it affects
HDD manufacturers must register standalone drives and ensure they meet safety standards.
Importers of standalone HDDs need to obtain registration before the November 5, 2026 deadline.
Specialized equipment makers can qualify for an exemption if production is low-volume.
What to do
Check if your standalone HDDs are now subject to compulsory registration.
Ensure products comply with safety standard IS 13252: Part 1: 2010.
Apply for registration before the November 5, 2026 deadline.
If you make specialized equipment, assess if you meet the HSE exemption criteria.
Key dates
Compliance Requirements for Standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in India under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021
Direct Answer
Effective 5 November 2026, all standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) (excluding USB Type External HDDs) must comply with the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 and meet the Indian Standard IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 ("Information Technology Equipment – Safety – Part 1: General Requirements")1. USB Type External HDDs remain governed by existing provisions1. Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) may qualify for exemptions under specific criteria2.
Regulation Analysis
1. Compulsory Registration Requirements for Standalone HDDs
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 | Standalone HDDs (excluding USB Type External HDDs) must be registered and comply with IS 13252 (Part 1): 20101. | 5 November 2026 | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) |
| IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 | Safety standards for information technology equipment, including HDDs1. | Applicable from 5 November 2026 | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) |
| Exemption for USB Type External HDDs | USB Type External HDDs continue under existing notified provisions (no new requirements)1. | Not applicable | MeitY |
2. Exemptions for Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE)
The Order exempts HSE from compulsory registration if:
- The equipment is manufactured/imported in <100 units per model per year and granted a specific exemption by MeitY2.
- The equipment meets any of the following criteria2:
- Powered by three-phase power supply; or
- Powered by single-phase power supply with current rating >16 Ampere; or
- Dimensions exceeding 1.5 m × 0.8 m; or
- Weight exceeding 80 kg.
- Effective Date: 15 June 20262.
3. Timeline of Key Amendments
| Notification | Action | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| S.O. 2204(E) (5 May 2026) | Substituted "Standalone Hard Disk Drives" in the Schedule of the Order, 20211. | 5 November 2026 |
| S.O. 1246(E) (10 March 2026) | Amended Paragraph 8 to exempt HSE under specified conditions2. | 15 June 2026 |
| S.O. 352(E) (22 January 2026) | Extended compliance deadline for TV sets (IS 18112:2022) from 26 January 2026 to 26 July 20263. | 26 July 2026 |
Summary Answer
From 5 November 2026, all standalone Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) (excluding USB Type External HDDs) must comply with the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021 and meet IS 13252 (Part 1): 20101. USB Type External HDDs remain under existing provisions1. Highly Specialized Equipment (HSE) may qualify for exemptions if manufactured/imported in <100 units per model/year and meeting size, weight, or power criteria, effective 15 June 20262. For related context on timeline extensions, see3. All gazette notifications are available on the MeitY website1, 2.
Sources
- ↩ G/TBT/N/IND/44 — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN12/IND44A19.docx
- ↩ G/TBT/N/IND/44 — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN12/IND44A18.docx
- ↩ G/TBT/N/IND/44 — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN12/IND44A17.docx