Hikvision & Dahua banned in India — what to buy instead in 2026

By AlifTech Secure  |  CCTV & Surveillance Solutions, Indore  |  May 2026  |  www.aliftechsecure.in

From 1 April 2026, MeitY’s Essential Requirements mandate took full effect for internet-connected CCTV cameras sold in India. Cameras without the required certification cannot legally be sold as new products, and Hikvision and Dahua, the two largest Chinese surveillance brands, did not clear it.

If you already own their cameras, nothing needs removing. The restriction covers new sales, not installed systems.

But if you are buying, replacing or expanding, the field has changed. This guide covers what happened, which brands passed, how to verify any camera before paying, and what it costs.

Quick Summary

• Hikvision and Dahua: no new sales in India from 1 April 2026.
• Existing systems keep working. The restriction covers sales, not installations.
• Certified alternatives include Prama, CP Plus, Sparsh and Matrix, with Prama holding the largest certified catalogue.
• Verify by model number, not brand. Certification is granted per model.
• Expect 15 to 20 percent more than the old Hikvision and Dahua pricing on mid-range cameras.

Two Certifications, and Which One Applies to You

Worth settling this first, because the terms get used interchangeably and they are not the same thing.

BIS ER-01 registration is the licence to sell a camera in the Indian market. The model is tested against the ER:01 security requirements and receives a registration number, the R-number. Under the Compulsory Registration Scheme, nobody may manufacture, store for sale, import, sell or distribute goods lacking the Standard Mark with that number.

STQC certification goes deeper, with system-level and attack-based testing plus annual surveillance audits. Government, PSU and GeM procurement requires it.

Both test the same six MeitY Essential Requirements: no default passwords, encrypted streams, signed firmware, disabled debug ports, supply-chain transparency, and a published vulnerability disclosure policy.

So which do you check? If you are buying for a home, shop or private business, BIS ER-01 is your requirement. If you are bidding on a government or PSU contract, you need STQC. The certified-model lists published on the STQC portal are also the most detailed public record of which brands cleared what, which is why the counts below come from there.

Why Hikvision and Dahua Did Not Clear It

This was not sudden. MeitY introduced the framework in 2024 and gave manufacturers time to comply. The deadline arrived on 1 April 2026 and both missed it.

What certification requires is the part that matters. Manufacturers must declare the origin of critical components, specifically the System-on-Chip and firmware. The camera then goes through lab testing for security weaknesses that could let someone reach the feed without permission.

That component declaration is the mechanism. Certification has been refused to products using Chinese-origin chipsets, and Hikvision and Dahua cameras run Chinese chipsets with Chinese firmware.

The wider context: the US, UK and Australia had already barred both brands from government deployments. India’s move extends a similar position across the whole retail and commercial market rather than government procurement alone.

We covered the timeline in detail in our guide to the CCTV import and BIS rules.

The Prama question, answered plainly

Hikvision does have certified models in India, through its Indian entity Prama. Those are Prama-branded models, not Hikvision-branded ones.

So a dealer saying “Hikvision is certified in India” is being loose with the truth. Prama is certified. Hikvision-branded products do not appear on the portal.

If someone offers you a Hikvision-branded camera as certified, ask for the certificate number and check it before paying.

If You Already Own Hikvision or Dahua Cameras

They keep working

No need to remove anything. The cameras record, the NVR stores footage, and nothing stops on a particular date.

Firmware updates may become irregular

Since neither brand can officially operate in the Indian market, firmware updates and security patches for Indian users may become irregular or stop.

This matters more than it sounds. An IP camera with known weaknesses and no patch is a potential route into your network, and that risk grows with time rather than staying flat.

Expansion needs certified hardware

Adding a camera, or replacing one that fails, means the new unit must be certified. The same applies to replacing an NVR or DVR.

So the transition begins naturally at your next expansion or replacement, rather than requiring a decision now.

The sensible plan

Phase the replacement over one to three years. As individual cameras age out, or when you extend coverage, replace them with certified models.

There is no rush to do everything at once. But every camera you add from this point should be certified.

Which Brands Passed

Model counts below come from the STQC portal. [CONFIRM: check current counts before publishing and add a “verified as of” date. These numbers move as more models get certified.]

CP Plus

The easiest transition for anyone moving off Hikvision or Dahua. Taiwanese chipsets, a range running from basic 2MP domes to 4K PTZ units, and the largest dealer and service network in India.

In Indore specifically, CP Plus dealers are well established and spare parts are readily available. For homes, shops, offices and smaller factories, it covers most cases at competitive prices.

Prama

The largest certified catalogue of any single brand. The range skews commercial and enterprise: IP cameras, analytics-enabled units, and high-resolution models for large facilities.

For Pithampur factories and institutional deployments, Prama is a strong choice. Entry pricing is higher than CP Plus, so there is no budget home option in the range.

Sparsh

Manufactured by Samriddhi Automation in Haridwar, and among the first brands to push for certification. It built its product line around the Indian compliance framework, and it has a strong public sector presence, which means its products face rigorous procurement scrutiny.

For buyers who need documented compliance quickly, Sparsh is reliable.

Matrix

Gujarat-based, with a particular strength in AI features: number plate recognition, face detection, crowd density and vehicle analytics.

Matrix also integrates with its own access control and intercom lines, which makes it useful where you want one manufacturer across a whole building rather than three.

HiFocus

Positions itself as the feature-led Indian brand, with AI cameras, 4G cameras, solar-powered units and enterprise NVR systems.

The solar and 4G combination is the genuinely useful one, since it covers remote sites, construction sites and facilities without reliable power or network. [CONFIRM: state clearly whether HiFocus holds BIS ER-01, STQC, or both. If BIS ER-01 only, note that it is sufficient for private purchase but not for government tenders.]

Honeywell

Premium international, suiting large institutional deployments where procurement wants a globally recognised name alongside Indian compliance. The limited model count and higher pricing make it less relevant for typical SME purchases.

Our made in India camera brands guide covers the Indian options in more depth.

How to Verify Before You Pay

Some dealers are still moving old stock and calling it certified. Verification takes two minutes.

Ask for the certificate number

Every certified model carries one. Ask for it before paying, by model.

A dealer who cannot produce a certificate number for the specific model they are selling is a dealer to walk away from.

Check it on the relevant portal

For a private purchase, check the BIS registration number and confirm the packaging carries the Standard Mark. For government work, verify the STQC certificate number on the STQC portal, which lists certified models with issuing lab, certificate date and validity.

If a model does not appear, it does not carry valid certification regardless of what anyone says.

Check the model, not the brand

Certification applies per model, not per brand. A brand having certified products does not mean every model it sells is one, so verify the exact model number every time.

Red flags when buying CCTV in 2026

• A dealer says a Chinese brand is certified without producing a certificate number
• Pricing sits well below certified alternatives, which usually means old unsold stock
• The box shows only the old IS 13252 electrical safety mark, which is not the same as ER-01
• Model number on the box does not match what appears on the portal
• Nobody at the counter can say what chipset the camera uses

Will Certified Cameras Cost More?

Yes, and it is worth understanding why rather than just absorbing it.

Hikvision and Dahua were priced aggressively in India for years, partly through subsidised domestic production and Chinese-origin chipsets that carried no compliance testing cost. So Indian buyers got used to prices that did not reflect what secure, tested hardware actually costs to build.

Certified alternatives use Taiwanese or Indian chipsets, go through lab testing, and carry genuine warranty support. Reporting suggests a 15 to 20 percent rise on mid and high-end cameras.

The gap is smaller at entry level, where CP Plus and Sparsh compete hard. It is larger at the premium end, where there is no longer a subsidised option pulling prices down.

That increase buys something real, though. A camera with a known chipset, tested firmware and an active local warranty channel carries considerably less long-term risk than a cheap camera with an opaque software supply chain. For a factory or commercial building, that difference matters.

Our CCTV camera set price guide breaks down current kit costs, and the best CCTV camera for home guide covers residential choices.

What This Means in Indore and Pithampur

There is a large installed base of Hikvision and Dahua here, across Pithampur factories, commercial buildings in Palasia and Vijay Nagar, hospitals and residential complexes. Most of those systems keep running.

The dealer ecosystem around them has shifted, though. Some dealers still hold old stock they are trying to move. Others have transitioned to CP Plus, Prama or Matrix as their main lines.

So when you buy cameras in Indore now, ask explicitly for the certificate number. That single question separates the two.

For new installations, whether a Pithampur factory unit or a city office, starting certified avoids the transition problem entirely and keeps you clear of any future enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use my existing Hikvision or Dahua cameras?

Yes. The April 2026 restriction covers new sales only, so existing installed cameras continue working normally. Firmware updates may become less regular, and when you replace or expand your system, new cameras must carry current certification.

Are there any Hikvision cameras still legal to buy in India?

Hikvision-branded models do not appear on the STQC portal. Prama, the Indian entity related to Hikvision, holds certified models under the Prama brand, and those are legal to buy. If a dealer offers a Hikvision-branded camera as certified, ask for the certificate number and verify it before paying.

How much more expensive are certified cameras?

Most buyers see a 15 to 20 percent increase on mid-range cameras. The gap is smaller at entry level where Indian brands compete hard, and larger at the premium end where subsidised Chinese pricing no longer applies.

Will the ban affect my CCTV warranty or support?

For existing systems, warranty depends on what was in place at purchase. Going forward, Hikvision and Dahua cannot officially support Indian sales, so warranty claims on new purchases from uncertified dealers carry real uncertainty. Certified brands maintain active Indian operations with local service.

How do I check whether a camera is certified before buying?

Ask for the certificate number for that exact model, then verify it on the relevant portal. Certification applies per model rather than per brand, so a brand having certified products does not mean every model it sells is one. Always check the model number, not the brand name.

In Short

Certified brands now cover every use case Hikvision and Dahua previously handled, at somewhat higher prices, with genuine compliance and active local support.

If you are buying in Indore today, start with a certificate check. If you have an existing Chinese-brand system, plan a phased transition rather than replacing everything at once.

And verify the model, not the brand. That is the only check that actually tells you anything.

AlifTech Secure  |  CCTV & Surveillance Solutions, Indore MP  |  www.aliftechsecure.in  |  +91 9109106826