STQC Certified CCTV Camera in India: Rules, Brands and How to Verify (2026)

An STQC certified CCTV camera is a camera model that has passed security testing against MeitY's Essential Requirements for CCTV and is registered with BIS. Since 1 April 2026, CCTV cameras that do not meet these requirements cannot be sold in India, so buyers should verify each model, not just the brand.

Key takeaways

• STQC certification is per model and per firmware, not per brand.

• The Essential Requirements were notified on 9 April 2024, and the sales relaxation for older stock ended on 1 April 2026.

• More than 196 network camera models had been certified by August 2026.

• Installed cameras are not ordered off the wall, but new purchases, expansions and replacements must be compliant.

• Check the model number, firmware version and BIS registration before you sign a purchase order.

If you have bought, specified or tendered for CCTV in India this year, you have met the phrase "STQC certified". The rule changed the market fast. Chinese firms held about one-third of India's network camera market before April 2026, and more than 196 network camera models had been certified by August 2026, according to MeitY figures reported by Business Standard (September 2026). This guide explains what an STQC certified CCTV camera is, who has to comply, which brands have certified models and how to check a camera before you buy it.

What is an STQC certified CCTV camera?

STQC stands for Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification. It is a directorate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that tests electronic products, including CCTV cameras, for quality and security.

An STQC certified CCTV camera is a specific camera model that has been tested against the Essential Requirements (ERs) for Security of CCTV and has a valid test report. That report is used to register the model with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Compulsory Registration Order. CCTV cameras are one of the covered product categories under STQC's IoT System Certification Scheme (IoTSCS).

STQC vs BIS ER: who does what

In short: the ERs are the rulebook, STQC or an accredited lab tests against them, and BIS registers the model. STQC states that the ERs for security under CRO and PPP-MII are the same, so one security test report serves both routes. If you are planning a new or upgraded system, our end-to-end surveillance solutions team works with this framework every day.

The STQC CCTV rule in one timeline

Three dates matter most: 9 April 2024, 9 April 2025 and 1 April 2026.

What the Essential Requirements check in a CCTV camera

The ERs test whether a camera can be tampered with, spied on or taken over. Testing covers resistance to tampering, encrypted communication, firmware integrity and avoiding exposed vulnerable interfaces, and in several cases includes simulated cyberattacks and attempts to access hardware ports (Electronics For You, July 2026). For the physical side of camera security, see our guide to preventing CCTV camera tampering.

What appears on the certificate

BIS guidelines tie each certificate to one exact build of a camera. The certificate must include (BIS, 2024):

• A photo of the device under test and its model number

• Chipset details, including make, model and country of origin

• Firmware version and its hash value

• Any deviations, recorded in a differential analysis report

The test report also carries software and hardware bills of materials showing how models in a series are similar or different. Compliant models may carry the label: "This CCTV camera complies with Essential Requirement(s) for Security." Because firmware and chipset are on the certificate, a camera with a different firmware or chip is not automatically covered, even if the model name looks the same.

Who must comply: government, private buyers and existing systems

The restriction is on sale, so it affects every buyer. Government tenders add their own procurement checks on top.

Government and PSU tenders

Government buyers already follow PPP-MII, and STQC confirms that its CCTV security test report applies to both CRO registration and PPP-MII compliance. Tender documents should ask for the ER test report reference and BIS registration for every camera and recorder model quoted. See how we support CCTV for government departments, and read how Indian police use AI CCTV for public safety.

Private and enterprise buyers

Since 1 April 2026, dealers cannot sell CCTV cameras that do not meet the ERs. For a factory, hospital, school or office, the practical rule is simple: buy only models you can verify, and keep the proof in your project file.

Existing installations and expansions

We have not found an order requiring private owners to remove cameras installed before the deadline. Some public bodies are choosing to replace them anyway: Delhi authorities have begun phasing out nearly 140,000 cameras linked to Hikvision, with about 50,000 cleared for replacement in the first phase (Electronics For You, July 2026).

The bigger risk is expansion. If you add new cameras to an older NVR or video management system, the new cameras must be compliant, and you need to confirm they work with your existing recorder and software. Plan expansions and end-of-life replacements together, not one camera at a time. Camera-agnostic software makes mixed fleets of old and new cameras easier to run.

STQC certified CCTV camera list: which brands have certified models?

Certified models come mainly from Indian makers, but you must check the model, not the logo. Business Standard names these Indian camera companies as filling the gap after April 2026 (Business Standard, September 2026):

A brand on this list does not mean every model it sells is certified. Ask for the certificate of the exact model and firmware you are buying.

Where to find the official list

STQC's IoTSCS page now states that its PPO certified list for network cameras "is no longer being updated and is retained solely for historical reference" (STQC, updated October 2026). In practice, the live check is the model's BIS registration record plus the ER test report reference, which the maker or integrator should provide.

What about Hikvision and Dahua?

Business Standard names Hikvision and Dahua as the Chinese market leaders and reports that the April 2026 requirement has effectively blocked Chinese firms from selling in India. Do not rely on brand-level claims either way. Check the specific model on the BIS record.

How to verify an STQC certified CCTV camera before you buy

Ask the seller for five things, then check them against the official record.

1. Exact model number of every camera and recorder in the quote.

2. Firmware version that will ship, and the hash value if available. It should match the certificate.

3. BIS registration number (R-number) for the model, checked on the BIS CRS portal.

4. ER test report reference from STQC or the accredited lab.

5. Label text on the box or datasheet: "This CCTV camera complies with Essential Requirement(s) for Security."

Red flags: a certificate for a "series" that does not list your model, a firmware version newer or older than the certified one with no differential report, or a seller who can only say the "brand is certified".

Sample clause for tenders and purchase orders

You can adapt this wording for your own documents, after checking it with your procurement or legal team:

"All CCTV cameras and recorders supplied shall conform to the Essential Requirement(s) for Security of CCTV notified by MeitY, and shall be registered with BIS under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021. The bidder shall submit, for each model quoted, the BIS registration number, the ER test report reference, and the firmware version covered by the test report. Firmware supplied at delivery shall match the tested version, or be supported by a differential analysis report."

A clause like this moves the burden of proof to the seller and gives your team a clear checklist at delivery. It also simplifies acceptance testing, because the site engineer only has to match what is on the device with what is in the file.

After installation, keep a record of model and firmware for every camera so audits are easy. CheckCam, Transline's CCTV health monitoring product, helps teams keep watch on camera and recorder status across sites.

What does STQC certification cost?

Buyers do not pay a certification fee. Manufacturers pay BIS fees for registration applications and test reports. For a manufacturer already holding a BIS licence and adding models, the BIS guidelines set the fee at ₹30,000 plus taxes per application, which includes one test report, and ₹20,000 plus taxes for each additional test report (BIS, 2024). Lab testing charges are separate and vary by lab and product.

For buyers, the cost shows up in two places: camera prices, and replacing cameras that cannot be expanded with compliant models. We have not found a reliable published figure for the average price difference, so get two or three quotes for the same specification.

Why India brought in the STQC CCTV rule

The rule is about cybersecurity and supply chain, including where a camera's chip comes from. Business Standard reports that MeitY's decision was driven mainly by cybersecurity risks and data sovereignty, and that the system-on-chip makes up 25 to 35% of a camera's bill of materials. Manufacturers are moving chip sourcing away from China, and Indian chip projects are growing: in October 2026, BigEndian Semiconductors' Project VeerAI, a ₹260 crore CCTV vision chip project, received ₹130 crore in support through the Technology Development Board's RDI Fund (Organiser, October 2026).

For buyers, the market will keep moving as new models, firmware and chips are certified. Our guide to AI CCTV camera features and cost covers what to look for beyond compliance, and AI surveillance security and privacy covers data protection.

How Transline helps you stay compliant

Transline Technologies designs, installs and supports surveillance systems for government, transport, retail, education and enterprise sites across India. For STQC compliance, we can help you:

• Review your current CCTV network and list camera models, recorders and firmware.

• Plan expansions and replacements with compliant cameras that work with your recorders and software, through our ELV solutions.

• Prepare tender and purchase specifications that ask for the right proof.

• Run every camera from one console with CamPulse, Transline's video management system with built-in AI alerts and camera health monitoring.

• Add AI video analytics to existing cameras with StorePulse.

Explore our surveillance solutions or talk to our team about a compliant CCTV plan for your sites.