Other

Electric control and distribution boards, panels, consoles (≤1,000 V)

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 8537 10 90 (electric control and distribution boards for voltages not exceeding 1,000 V) is subject to mandatory type-approval certification under the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) scheme administered by the Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), where the product falls within the notified list of telecom equipment. Compliance is governed by the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 and DoT notifications as amended through F.No.5-2/2024-TC/TEC (Pt.1) dated 25-02-2025.

What this is

HSN code

8537 10 90

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

DoT/TEC · Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 (MTCTE mandatory certification)

Customs documentation

MTCTE type-approval certificate from TEC
Compliance declaration from importer
Product-scope confirmation from DoT

Compliance steps

1
Verify whether the specific control or distribution board model falls within the notified list of telecom equipment under the MTCTE scheme. If listed, obtain a valid MTCTE type-approval certificate from the Telecommunications Engineering Centre before filing the bill of entry; import without certification exposes the consignment to detention and confiscation.
Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 · DoT Notification TEC/01/2017-TC dated 04-07-2019 as amended vide F.No.5-2/2021-TC/TEC/131 dated 13-06-2022 and F.No.5-2/2024-TC/TEC (Pt.1) dated 25-02-2025
2
Upload the MTCTE type-approval certificate and supporting compliance documentation in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. The proper officer must verify these documents before granting out-of-charge; PGA-facilitated bills not routed through DoT/TEC for NOC are subject to documentary verification by the customs officer.
Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 · DoT Notification F.No.5-2/2024-TC/TEC (Pt.1) dated 25-02-2025

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing under the assumption that the MTCTE scheme applies only to conventional telecom terminal equipment, and that an industrial control panel or distribution board for voltages not exceeding 1,000 V falls outside its scope. The notified product list under MTCTE has been progressively expanded through successive DoT amendments — the 2022 and February 2025 notifications added categories that encompass equipment with embedded communication interfaces; importers must re-verify scope against the current notified list before each shipment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8537 10 90 require BIS certification?

No, this tariff line does not fall under a BIS Quality Control Order; no BIS QCO covers this residual category of electric control and distribution boards at the 8-digit level. The operative framework is the MTCTE mandatory certification scheme administered by the Telecommunications Engineering Centre under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017, where the product is on the notified list.

How do I determine whether my specific control panel model is on the MTCTE notified list?

Cross-reference the product's technical specifications against the notified list as updated by DoT Notification F.No.5-2/2024-TC/TEC (Pt.1) dated 25-02-2025; if the panel incorporates telecom-interface apparatus, it is within MTCTE scope and a TEC type-approval certificate is mandatory before import.

What happens if a consignment arrives without an MTCTE certificate and the product is on the notified list?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of import, and the importer faces potential confiscation and monetary penalty under the Indian Telegraph Act; out-of-charge will not be granted until a valid MTCTE type-approval certificate is produced or the goods are re-exported.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.