Dumped China goods form over 50% of India's electronics imports

China accounted for over half of India's electronic and communication items import that stood at $37.2 billion in April-February period of 2015-16. 

"As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Kolkata, the total import of electronic and communication items stood at $37.2 billion in 2015-16 (up to February) from $33.5 billion in 2012-13," Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

This includes computer hardware, peripherals, consumer electronics, components, telecom instruments and batteries. Imports from China have also grown, rising from $16.5 billion in 2012-13 to $20 billion in 2015-16 (up to February), the minister said.

"Large scale import of electronic (including telecommunication) items is taking place from China as China has substantial share in global manufacturing of electronics," he added. Export of electronic and communication items from India, on the other hand, has steadily declined from $8.2 billion in 2012-13 to $7.8 billion (2013-14), $6.2 billion (2014-15)and $5.3 billion in 2015-16 (up to February).

"The promotion of electronics manufacturing is one of the pillars of Digital India programme. The target to achieve 'Net Zero Import' by 2020 is a manifestation of the intent," Prasad said. Under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS), the government provides financial incentives to offset disability and attract investments in the electronics systems design and manufacturing (EDSM) sector. The scheme was notified in July 2012.

Since May 2014 till March 2016, investment proposals worth approximately Rs 1.05 lakh crore have been received in DeitY under M-SIPS.