Electronics and solar

Import led lights and luminaires

Luminaires pay 20% BCD plus 5% AIDC and 18% IGST. LED lamps and fittings need BIS registration and e-waste EPR.

Free to importHS 9405

Basic customs duty: 20%
Social welfare surcharge: Nil on 9405 (AIDC instead); 10% of BCD on 8539 52 00
IGST: 18%
India’s imports, 2025-26: US$ 464 mn

Budget 2025–26 changed luminaires and light fittings from 25% BCD + 2.5% SWS to 20% BCD + 5% AIDC. The CBIC tariff shows 20% for LED modules and LED lamps (8539 51, 8539 52). IGST is 18% for both 8539 and 9405 (Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). Budget 2026–27 made no change to chapters 85 lamps or 94. Parts and inputs for making LED lights have concessional rates (Notification 45/2025-Customs, entries extended to 31 March 2028) — useful if you assemble in India. AIDC 5% on luminaires and lighting fittings of 9405 (from 02.02.2025). Union Budget 2025–26 — Budget Speech with Annexure to Part B (customs rate changes) ↗

What is imported

LED panels, downlights, street lights, flood lights, strip lights and bulbs are imported by lighting brands, contractors and traders. Most come from China. India has a large LED manufacturing base and supports it with duty and BIS rules, so the imported product must carry the BIS mark for the exact model.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS). BIS registration (a Quality Control requirement) applies before import, not an import licence.

Licences and registrations you need

BIS (CRS)Self-ballasted LED lamps, LED luminaires and LED drivers are under the Compulsory Registration Scheme. Each model needs registration by the manufacturer and the mark on the product.crsbis.in ↗
CPCB (E-Waste Rules, 2022)Lighting equipment is covered by the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. Importers register as producers on CPCB’s e-waste EPR portal.eprewastecpcb.in ↗
Legal MetrologyRetail-packed bulbs and lights need the importer’s name, MRP and other declarations on the pack, and the importer must register under the Packaged Commodities Rules.consumeraffairs.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

BIS mark and registration number matching the model on the invoice.
Classification of lamps (8539) versus fittings (9405) versus solar lamps (9405 50).
Legal Metrology declarations on retail packs.

Practical tips

Ask the supplier for the BIS registration certificate and check it on the BIS portal before you pay any advance.
Test samples for wattage, lumen output and driver quality — cheap drivers are the usual failure point.

Where new importers go wrong

The supplier’s BIS registration covers a different model or wattage from the one shipped.
Shipping fittings with loose bulbs and declaring everything under one code.

Sources (7)

Import data

Where India buys led lights and luminaires

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26: US$ 464 mn
Change from 2024-25: -0.3%
Supplying countries: 63
Biggest supplier: China

Where India imports led lights and luminaires from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26

India’s led lights and luminaires imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change

1ChinaUS$ 349 mn+0.8%

2GermanyUS$ 17.7 mn-10.7%

3United States of AmericaUS$ 15.4 mn-3%

4ItalyUS$ 13.1 mn+18.4%

5Hong KongUS$ 11.2 mn-8.4%

6SingaporeUS$ 7.5 mn+46.1%

7FranceUS$ 5.7 mn-17.5%

8SpainUS$ 4.6 mn-6.4%

9United KingdomUS$ 4.4 mn-6.4%

10ThailandUS$ 4.2 mn+27.3%

11South KoreaUS$ 3.9 mn-43.5%

12BelgiumUS$ 3.2 mn-19.4%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

SingaporeUS$ 5.1 mn → US$ 7.5 mn+46.1%
ItalyUS$ 11.1 mn → US$ 13.1 mn+18.4%

Shrinking sources

South KoreaUS$ 6.9 mn → US$ 3.9 mn-43.5%
FranceUS$ 6.9 mn → US$ 5.7 mn-17.5%
GermanyUS$ 19.8 mn → US$ 17.7 mn-10.7%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff line	Value 2025-26	Change	Quantity	Average price
Other parts of lamps and lighing fittings`9405 99 00`	US$ 159 mn	-1.1%	53,748 tonnes	US$ 2.96 per kg
Others-of-others-of-luminaires and lighting fttngs including search ligh...`9405 49 00`	US$ 143 mn	-3.3%	1.20 bn pieces	US$ 0.12 per piece
Other,designed for use solely with led light sources`9405 42 00`	US$ 48 mn	+9.5%	160 mn pieces	US$ 0.30 per piece
Designed for use solely with led light sources`9405 11 00`	US$ 24.2 mn	-2%	43.7 mn pieces	US$ 0.55 per piece
Others-of-others-of-luminaires and lighting fttngs including search ligh...`9405 19 00`	US$ 22.7 mn	-10.1%	46.3 mn pieces	US$ 0.49 per piece
Non electrical luminaries and lighting fittings`9405 50 00`	US$ 15.1 mn	+1.5%	10.6 mn pieces	US$ 1.42 per piece
Others-of-others-of-luminaires and lighting fttngs including search ligh...`9405 29 00`	US$ 13.3 mn	+2%	47.7 mn pieces	US$ 0.28 per piece
Designed for use solely with led light sources`9405 31 00`	US$ 11.9 mn	+4.3%	132 mn pieces	US$ 0.09 per piece
Others-of-others-of-luminaires and lighting fttngs including search ligh...`9405 69 00`	US$ 7.7 mn	+43.6%	15.6 mn pieces	US$ 0.50 per piece
Parts of lamps etc. of plastics`9405 92 00`	US$ 6 mn	+6.4%	446 tonnes	US$ 13.50 per kg
Photovolatic, designed for use solely with led light sources`9405 41 00`	US$ 4.3 mn	-6.3%	15.9 mn pieces	US$ 0.27 per piece
Others-of-others-of-luminaires and lighting fttngs including search ligh...`9405 39 00`	US$ 3.9 mn	-11.3%	40.7 mn pieces	US$ 0.10 per piece