Geophysical instruments

Geophysical instruments for surveying and measurement

CDSCO CLEARANCE · MOHFW CLEARANCE

HSN 9015 80 30 (Geophysical instruments) is subject to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) registration under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, where the instrument falls within the medical device categories listed in G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). Instruments incorporating wireless or telecom-enabled functionality are additionally subject to mandatory certification under the Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) scheme administered by the Department of Telecommunications.

What this is

HSN code

9015 80 30

Chapter

90 · Optical, photographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments

Primary regulator

CDSCO · Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020)

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CDSCO
MTCTE certification from DoT
Import compliance declaration from MOHFW

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CDSCOCDSCO·Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

MOHFWMOHFW·Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Compliance steps

1
Determine whether the geophysical instrument falls within the medical device categories notified in G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. If so, obtain the requisite CDSCO registration before filing the bill of entry; import without registration attracts seizure and prosecution under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017.
G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 · Medical Devices Rules, 2017
2
For geophysical instruments incorporating telecom or wireless functionality, confirm whether the product is listed under the MTCTE scheme per DoT Notifications 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. Mandatory certification under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 must be in place before import clearance.
Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017 · DoT Notification TEC/01/2017-TC dated 04-07-2019 · F.No. 5-2/2021-TC/TEC/131 dated 13-06-2022 · 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 classifying a geophysical instrument as purely industrial surveying equipment and overlooking whether it falls within the G.S.R. 102(E) medical device notification. Instruments with diagnostic, physiological measurement, or body-applied sensing functions may be captured by that notification regardless of their primary geophysical use; importing such a device without CDSCO registration exposes the consignment to detention, confiscation, and criminal liability under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017. The MTCTE overlay is a separate, concurrent obligation that does not discharge the CDSCO requirement and vice versa.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9015 80 30 require BIS certification?

No, geophysical instruments under this tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation registration under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 where the device falls within G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020, and by MTCTE mandatory certification for telecom-enabled variants.

How do I determine whether my geophysical instrument requires CDSCO registration?

Cross-reference the instrument's intended function and product description against the medical device categories notified in G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; devices falling within those categories require CDSCO registration irrespective of their broader industrial application.

Does the MTCTE certification requirement apply to all geophysical instruments under this HSN?

No. MTCTE mandatory certification applies only to instruments that incorporate telecom or wireless components listed in the DoT notifications; purely mechanical or non-wireless geophysical instruments are not within the MTCTE scope under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017.

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