Companies require a Valid license for the Import of laptops & tablets
Himanshi Singh
Associate, Policy & Advocacy
PUBLISHED ON
Aug 16, 2023
10
Introduction
Recently the Indian Government banned the import of Laptops and tablets in India under the computers of HSN 8471. According to the notification of the government, Directorate General of foreign trade, there will be restrictions on the import of Laptops, tablets, and other electronic items from 1st November 2023. The government advised the Domestic companies to apply for the license within three months. As the process is simple, and many local companies have already applied for the license. The government will require a valid license for the import of laptops and other electronic items.
The Government imposed restrictions on the Import of Laptops & other electronic products
The DGFT (The directorate General of foreign trade) imposed restrictions on the import of electronic items in India. And, there has been the final date has also been given that the companies only have 3 months to apply for a valid license, from November 1st 2023there will be a requirement for a valid license for the import, and there will be a proper ban on the import of laptops & tablets, and other electronic items. The ban is on the HSN-8471. These are the products that indicate that they are taxable. It is a classification code to identify the taxable items. India has sufficient capacity and capability to manufacture their own IT hardware devices and boost production.
The government has notified production linked incentive, PLI Scheme 2.0, for the IT devices, which will soon be disclosed, and the scheme is expected to lead to a total of 29 thousand crore rupees worth of IT hardware nearly. And this will create future job opportunities in the five to six years.
The pros & cons of the import
Banning import has two sides. The positive one is that, it will promote the domestic manufacturers, local companies will able to grow, and there will be job opportunities, but if we talk about the negative side of the import, then the prices will be high for the consumers. One aspect is making India’s digital infrastructure stable, and the other side is affecting consumers.
Reasons Behind the ban on the Import of electronic items
There are the following reasons behind the ban on the Import of laptops and tablets,
The primary reason why the government banned the import of laptops and other electronic items is because of security concerns about the data. And to prevent data theft a step has been taken by the Government.
The banning will help the domestic manufacturer to grow and will provide opportunities to the local companies in India.
It will help in the creation of Job vacancies in the country.
There will be a curb down of selling of Chinese products.
The government will promote the digital infrastructure of India by putting a ban on imports. Such as there are domestic companies like Reliance recently launched a laptop by the name of Jio Book, and there is a company that sells the cheapest tablet called Aakash, so the import ban will promote these types of electronic items of the local companies. This step will soon result in digital advancement in India.
Conclusion
The laptop, tablets, and other electronic products that have been banned in India will make a substantial move with the implications. The objective of the ban is to encourage domestic manufacturing and to secure the data, however, it will also affect the consumers which can not be ignored. The other future effects are yet to be seen. But the one scenario is clear, that the policy will significantly make a change in India’s Technology industry.
In an exciting milestone achieved by CyberPeace, an ICANN APRALO At-Large organization, in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), has successfully deployed and made operational an L-root server instance in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This initiative marks a significant step toward enhancing the resilience, speed, and security of internet connectivity in eastern India.
Understanding the DNS hierarchy – Starting from Root
Internet users access online information through different domain names and interactions with any web browser takes place through IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. Domain Name System (DNS) functions as the internet's equivalent of Yellow Pages or the phonebook of cyberspace. When a person uses a domain name like www.cyberpeace.org to access a website, their browser communicates with the internet protocol, and DNS converts the domain name to the corresponding IP address so that web browsers may load the web pages. The function of a DNS is to convert domain names to Internet Protocol addresses. It enables the respective browsers to load the resources from the Internet.
When a user types a domain name into your browser, a DNS query works behind the scenes to find the website’s IP address. First, your device asks a DNS resolver—often provided by your ISP or a third-party service—for the address. The resolver checks its cache for a match, and if none is found, it queries a root server to locate the top-level domain (TLD) server (like .com or .org). The resolver then asks the TLD server for the Authoritative nameserver responsible for the particular domain, which provides the specific IP address. Finally, the resolver sends this address back to your device, enabling it to connect to the website’s server and load the page. The entire process happens in milliseconds, ensuring seamless browsing.
Special focus on Root Server:
A root server is a name server that directly answers queries for records in the root zone and redirects requests for more specific domains to the appropriate top-level domain (TLD) servers. Root servers are an integral part of this system, acting as the first step in resolving a domain name into its corresponding IP address. They provide the initial direction needed to locate the authoritative servers for any domain.
The DNS root zone is served by 13 unique IP addresses, supported by hundreds of redundant root servers distributed worldwide connected through Anycast Routing to manage requests efficiently. As of January 8, 2025, the global root server system consists of 1921 instances operated by 12 independent root server operators. These servers ensure the smooth functioning of the internet by managing the backbone of DNS queries.
Type of Root Server Instances:
Well, in this regard, there are two types of root server instances that can be found– Global instance and Local instance.
Global root server instances are the primary root servers distributed strategically around the world. Local instances, on the other hand, are replicas of these global servers deployed in specific regions to handle local DNS traffic more efficiently. In each operator's list of sites, some instances are marked as global (globe icon) and some are marked as local (flag icon). The difference is in how widely available that instance will be, because of how routing for that instance is done. Recall that the routes for an instance are announced by BGP, the inter-domain routing protocol.
For global instances, the route advertisement is permitted to spread throughout the Internet, i.e., any router on the Internet could know the path to that instance. Of course, for a particular source, the route to that instance may not be the optimal route, so some other instance could be chosen as the destination.
With a local instance, however, the route advertisement is limited to only nearby networks. For example, the instance may be visible to just one ISP, or to ISPs that connect at a particular exchange point. Sources from farther away will not be able to see and query that local instance.
Deployment in Ranchi - The Journey & Significance:
CyberPeace in Collaboration with ICANN has successfully deployed an L-root server instance in Ranchi, marking a significant milestone in enhancing regional Internet infrastructure. This deployment, part of a global network of root servers, ensures faster and more reliable DNS query resolution for the region, reducing latency and enhancing cybersecurity.
Image Source: https://root-servers.org/
The Journey of deploying the L-Root instance in Collaboration with ICANN followed the steps-
Signing the Agreement: Finalized the L-SINGLE Hosting Agreement with ICANN to formalize the partnership.
Procuring the Hardware: Acquired the required hardware appliance to meet technical standards for hosting the L-root server.
Setup and Installation: Configured and installed the appliance to prepare it for seamless operation.
Joining the Anycast Network: Integrated the server into ICANN's global Anycast network using BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for efficient DNS traffic management.
The deployment of the L-root server in Ranchi marks a significant boost to the region’s digital ecosystem. It accelerates DNS query resolution, reducing latency and enhancing internet speed and reliability for users.
This instance strengthens cyber defenses by mitigating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) risks and managing local traffic efficiently. It also underscores Eastern India’s advanced digital infrastructure, aligning with initiatives like Digital India to meet evolving digital demands.
By handling local queries, the L-root server eases the load on global servers, contributing to a more stable and resilient global internet.
CyberPeace’s Commitment to a Secure and resilient Cyberspace
As an organization dedicated to promoting peace, security and resilience in cyberspace, CyberPeace views this collaboration with ICANN as a significant achievement in its mission. By strengthening the internet’s backbone in eastern India, this deployment underscores our commitment to enabling a secure, accessible, and resilient digital ecosystem.
Way forward and Roadmap for Strengthening India’s DNS Infrastructure:
The successful deployment of the L-root instance in Ranchi is a stepping stone toward bolstering India's digital ecosystem. CyberPeace aims to promote awareness about DNS infrastructure through workshops and seminars, emphasizing its critical role in a resilient digital future.
With plans to deploy more such root server instances across India, the focus is on expanding local DNS infrastructure to enhance efficiency and security. Collaborative efforts with government agencies, ISPs, and tech organizations will drive this vision forward. A robust monitoring framework will ensure optimal performance and long-term sustainability of these initiatives.
Conclusion
The deployment of the L-root server instance in Eastern India represents a monumental step toward strengthening the region’s digital foundation. As Ranchi joins the network of cities hosting root server instances, the benefits will extend not only to the local community but also to the global internet ecosystem. With this milestone, CyberPeace reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and resilience in cyberspace, paving the way for a more connected and secure future.
A misleading video claiming to show fireworks at Dubai International Cricket Stadium following India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win has gone viral, causing confusion among viewers. Our investigation confirms that the video is unrelated to the cricket tournament. It actually depicts the fireworks display from the December 2024 Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium. This incident underscores the rapid spread of outdated or misattributed content, particularly in relation to significant sports events, and highlights the need for vigilance in verifying such claims.
A reverse image search of the most prominent keyframes in the viral video led it back to the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, which was hosted by Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait on December 21, 2024. The fireworks seen in the video correspond to the imagery in this event. A second look at the architecture of the stadium also affirms that the venue is not Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as asserted. Additional confirmation from official sources and media outlets verifies that there was no such fireworks celebration in Dubai after India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win. The video has therefore been misattributed and shared with incorrect context.
Fig: Claimed Stadium Picture
Fig: Actual image of Dubai International Stadium
Conclusion:
A viral video claiming to show fireworks at Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India's 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win is misleading. Our research confirms the video is from the December 2024 Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium. A reverse image search and architectural analysis of the stadium debunk the claim, with official sources verifying no such celebration took place in Dubai. The video has been misattributed and shared out of context.
Claim: Fireworks in Dubai celebrate India’s Champions Trophy win.
A widely circulated video claiming to feature a poster with the words "I Told Modi" has gone viral, improperly connecting it to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, in which terrorists killed 26 civilians. The altered Marvel Studios clip is allegedly a mockery of Operation Sindoor, the counterterrorism operation India initiated in response to the attack. This misinformation emphasizes how crucial it is to confirm information before sharing it online by disseminating misleading propaganda and drawing attention away from real events.
Claim:
A man can be seen changing a poster that says "Tell Modi" to one that says "I Told Modi" in a widely shared viral video. This video allegedly makes reference to Operation Sindoor in India, which was started in reaction to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in which militants connected to The Resistance Front (TRF) killed 26 civilians.
Fact check:
Further research, we found the original post from Marvel Studios' official X handle, confirming that the circulating video has been altered using AI and does not reflect the authentic content.
By using Hive Moderation to detect AI manipulation in the video, we have determined that this video has been modified with AI-generated content, presenting false or misleading information that does not reflect real events.
Furthermore, we found a Hindustan Times article discussing the mysterious reveal involving Hollywood actor Sebastian Stan.
Conclusion:
It is untrue to say that the "I Told Modi" poster is a component of a public demonstration. The text has been digitally changed to deceive viewers, and the video is manipulated footage from a Marvel film. The content should be ignored as it has been identified as false information.
Claim: Viral social media posts confirm a Pakistani military attack on India.
Claimed On: Social Media
Fact Check: False and Misleading
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