Government May Limit Laptop And Tablets Import Soon; Netizens Jibe, “Get Ready For Dhandobooks”
The government of India is reportedly planning to limit importing laptops to boost local manufacturing. The import curb will affect laptops, tablets, and other personalized gadgets. As published in Reuters, per two anonymous government sources, the move is to nudge global giants like Apple to manufacture their devices in the country, thereby reducing costing and also leveraging the economy for the locals. If all goes well, the policy will disrupt the industry that is worth between $8 billion and $10 billion. Last year, a similar notice that sought to restrict imports was withdrawn after some lobbying by the United States and fierce opposition from the brands. Following the backlash last year, the GOI implemented an annual free import authorization for laptops and tablets that took effect in November 2023. Per the policy, companies are required to register the volume and value of imports, and the same data will be used by the government for monitoring purposes. With this ‘import management system’ set to expire in a few weeks, the new plan by the government could be delayed as the government will begin consultations with industry bodies and companies. Currently, the hardware imports are free after the automated online registration. The new proposed policy might affect the quantity of registration of imported devices.
India plans laptop import curbs to boost local manufacturing, sources say pic.twitter.com/k0ItxSZ67O
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) October 18, 2024
Meanwhile, here’s how the netizens reacted to the reported plan by the government of India. “Get ready for Dhandobooks at double cost and half abilities,” a netizen took potshots at the proposed policy. “Jio laptops?” jibed another user, while one jokingly remarked, “Patanjali laptops.” Yet another user commented that since Jio’s laptop business is struggling, they might “need support from the government.” “In the name of Indianization,” one user wrote, “customers will get shoddy and expensive products.” Another netizen reasoned that if you force curbs on imports, it only means that the domestic production is in shambles and laptops are not agricultural products. “People deserve the best,” the user added. Several users lamented about the current dispensation taking India back to the license-raj era. “We are back to the pre-liberalization era,” remarked one.
We are back to pre-liberalization era.😔
— Ritesh (@ritesh_1625) October 20, 2024
Get ready to buy Dhandobooks at double cost and half capabilities, incredible boolshit.
— Mr Melancholy (@chakravartiin) October 20, 2024
Jio laptops?
— Alok Jain ⚡ (@WeekendInvestng) October 19, 2024
Soon Indian Market will be flooded with this laptop 👇
— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) October 19, 2024
A few years back this question would be: Patanjali laptops?
— GarvSeSecular (@GarvSeSecular) October 20, 2024
Yes, Jio laptop struggling. So need support from govt. now
— Rakesh Subudhi (@Rakesh_s8) October 19, 2024
If you have to limit imports, that means your domestic production is not good enough. 🤷🏼♂️
Laptops are not agricultural products, the people deserve the best.
— Vineeth Naik 🇮🇳 (@vineeth_naik) October 19, 2024
In the name of indianization customer will get shoddy and expensive products
— Neeraj Goel (@nginc5) October 20, 2024
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Cover: illustrative / Pexels
