Government of India Archives - Gizmochina

India’s Proposed Constant Phone Location Tracking Raises Serious Privacy Concerns

Sean — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:45:19 +0000

The government of India is apparently reviewing a contentious new proposal from telecom lobbyists that has raised alarms over privacy concerns. It seems that the proposal wants the government to mandate always-on satellite based location tracking, which can’t be manually switched off by the users.

Smartphone Location Tracking For All? What India’s New Proposal Means for You

According to a recent Reuters report, the proposal was put forward by the COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India), and it seems to replace the current system. As of right now, the telecom operators rely on cell tower data and offer a rough estimate location. But the COAI wants the government to push A-GPS tracking.

Image via TheNextWeb

If this goes through, the smartphones in India might operate as permanent tracking devices with location services always being enabled, with no options to switch them off. Although, in an odd turn of events, major brands that have been caught harvesting private user data have pushed back against this proposal. This includes three tech giants, namely Apple, Google, and Samsung. These brands are protesting that this is an overreach with serious legal, security, and privacy implications.

This is especially true for individuals whose roles require confidentiality, like journalists, activists, judges, security personnel, and others. The timing of this proposal arrives just after the Indian government was rolling out a controversial order that would have all new smartphones come pre-installed with a “cyber-safety” app, which was also met with pushback owing to privacy concerns. If the proposal moves forward, India could become one of the first countries to enforce mandatory, always-on GPS tracking on consumer smartphones

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Potential threats for Apple users? Indian Govt issues high severity warning

Soumyakanti — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:24:16 +0000

CERT-In issued a high-severity warning regarding serious vulnerabilities found in multiple Apple products, such as iPhones and Apple Watches. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow hackers to execute arbitrary code, gain escalated privileges, or bypass security measures on the impacted devices.

Credit: AFP via Getty Images

Understanding the Risks

The vulnerabilities come from problems in certificate validation within key components like Security, Kernel, and WebKit in Apple products. Specifically, the flaws impact the Safari browser and other browsers using WebKit. These vulnerabilities enable attackers to bypass security protocols, gain elevated access rights, and execute arbitrary code on targeted systems.

The WebKit vulnerability poses a significant risk as it could enable attackers to take control of Apple devices, potentially accessing personal data, files, and even installing malware. This threat arises when users are lured to malicious websites or open harmful attachments. The security concerns extend to various Apple software versions, including macOS Monterey, macOS Ventura, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Safari.

To reduce the risks associated with these vulnerabilities, users are strongly advised by the national authority to promptly update their Apple devices to the latest available versions. Apple has released updates to address these vulnerabilities, which can be obtained from the official website, cert-in.org.in.

CERT-In is a central organization operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

Here’s the list of the affected software:

Apple macOS Monterey versions prior to 12.7
Apple macOS Ventura versions prior to 13.6
Apple watchOS versions prior to 9.6.3
Apple watchOS versions prior to 10.0.1
Apple iOS versions prior to 16.7 and iPadOS versions prior to 16.7
Apple iOS versions prior to 17.0.1 and iPadOS versions prior to 17.0.1
Apple Safari versions prior to 16.6.1

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India delays import license requirement for laptops and tablets

Soumyakanti — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:17:52 +0000

India is reportedly postponing the implementation of import licenses for laptops and tablets by one year, according to anonymous government officials cited by Reuters. This decision represents a departure from the previous policy, which had faced criticism from industry players, including giants like Apple and Samsung.

Shift in Import Policy

The move aims to ease concerns and streamline the import registration process. However, the Indian Electronics Department has not provided an official comment on the matter.

Under the proposed “Import Management System,” companies importing laptops, tablets, and PCs will be required to obtain a “registration certificate” instead of the previously planned “license.” This recommendation was communicated to industry representatives during a meeting held by the Indian Electronics Department.

The initial announcement of import license requirements for laptops, tablets, and personal computers had raised concerns about the impact on the market. Previously, companies could freely import such products, but the new regulations required special permits for their sale in India. Industry insiders voiced concerns about longer waiting times for product entry, particularly during peak demand periods like holidays.

Following pressure from various quarters, the Indian government has decided to further delay the implementation of the import license measures. The new effective date for these requirements is now November 1st of this year. Until October 31st, manufacturers can continue importing laptops, tablets, PCs, and server equipment without the need for additional licenses.

This decision to postpone the import licensing system reflects the Indian government’s responsiveness to industry concerns and its ongoing efforts to balance domestic manufacturing promotion with international trade interests.

The one-year delay provides breathing room for companies while the government reevaluates the licensing approach. Industry stakeholders will be closely watching for further developments and potential adjustments to these import regulations.

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Rajasthan’s free phone to women scheme sees pushback from smartphone retailers

Sean — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:38:49 +0000

Smartphone distributors have criticized the Rajasthan government and are against the their latest scheme that plans on giving out free smartphones to women. The retailers believe that the move will make a significant impact on their profits. So here are all the details.

Why are smartphone retailers up in arms?

Smartphone retailers are pushing back against the Indian state government’s recent initiative to provide women in Rajashtan with free smartphones. The move to distribute 4 million smartphones by October will take away a large number of potential customers by giving away 500,000 smartphones for free. This would directly impact their profits and likely lead to significant losses, according to the retailers.

The All India Mobile Retailers Association wrote to Rajasthan Chief Minister’s office in a letter that 25 percent of the half a million phones sold in the state every month cost under 10,000 INR. The association added that “These devices are mainly retailed by small-scale businesses who are now struggling with an unenviable situation due to exclusive distribution of IGSY (Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana) smartphones by an outside agency through a limited number of camps.

What is the new scheme all about?

They further added that the distribution of smartphones is being handled by two agencies, which bypass the existing distribution network in the region. For those unaware, the Rajasthan government had announced the free smartphone distribution scheme earlier this month. With this new initiative, the state aimed on providing free handsets to three groups of females.

This included widowed pensioners, girl students and female heads of families working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme and the Indira Gandhi Urban Guarantee Scheme. The government will be giving away these smartphones through state-authorized distributors who are holding camps across the state. Those that are eligible for this scheme are given a date and time to queue up for their free smartphone.

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India’s laptop and tablet import restriction will be effective from November

Soumyakanti — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 14:45:37 +0000

The Indian government recently announced controversial restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, and certain personal computer categories, sparking immediate backlash from tech giants like Apple and Samsung. The policy, initially set to take effect immediately, has been pushed to November 1 after a three-month grace period was granted.

Restrict, React, Realign: India’s Controversial Import Policy

The move comes amid the launch of “JioBook 11 (2023)” by Reliance Jio, a company owned by India’s wealthiest individual, Mukesh Ambani. Priced at around $200, the affordable laptop mirrors a past incident when Reliance Jio introduced 4G phones during restrictions on foreign-made smartphones. Speculations arise regarding the timing and intent behind the import policy change, hinting at potential tensions between tech corporations and the Indian administration.

The primary reason for the government’s decision is to promote local manufacturing in the IT hardware sector. Major companies like Dell, Acer, Samsung, LG, Apple, and Lenovo, which rely on import-based business models for the Indian market, may face hurdles. Nevertheless, the move aims to boost domestic production and attract global tech giants to consider expanding their manufacturing units into India, away from China.

Interestingly, the DGFT’s (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) notification includes an exemption clause allowing up to 20 items per consignment to bypass import license requirements if they are intended for specific purposes such as research and development, testing, and product development.

To further boost domestic manufacturing capabilities, the Indian government launched the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) 2.0 IT hardware scheme. Notably, 44 companies, including HP, have shown interest and registered for the initiative. As the implementation deadline approaches, international companies are under pressure to secure the required licenses if they wish to maintain their market presence in India. Overall, this strategy showcases India’s ambitions to become a major player in IT hardware production and reduce reliance on imports.

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India restricts import of laptops, tablets, servers to boost local industry

Soumyakanti — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 21:53:07 +0000

The Indian government has implemented restrictions on the import of personal computers, laptops, and related items to promote domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, particularly from China. The move comes as part of the government’s efforts to bolster the electronics sector and encourage local production through its production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

The Vision Behind India’s Self-Reliance in Electronics

The new restrictions require companies to obtain a valid import license for importing laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and ultrasmall form factor computers. However, individual consumers are exempted from the licensing requirement for single laptop or tablet imports through e-commerce channels.

There are exceptions to the licensing requirement, including imports for research, testing, evaluation, and repair purposes. Laptops and computers used as essential parts of capital goods are also exempt.

This move may impact companies like Apple, Samsung, and Acer, as they might need to increase their manufacturing and assembly operations in India to continue serving the market. Depending on the implementation of licensing norms, there could be price changes for consumers.

The government’s aim is to reduce dependence on a single country (China) for imports and provide secure digital access to India’s growing number of digital citizens. The initiative seeks to boost local industry and make the nation self-reliant and competitive in the global tech market. Industry experts believe that trusted partners will receive valid licenses, ensuring unrestricted access to reliable brands for consumers.

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Samsung faces potential loss of tax benefits in India due to invoicing discrepancies

Soumyakanti — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:21:09 +0000

Samsung, the leading smartphone brand in India, is at risk of losing tax benefits for the financial year 2021. Under the Indian government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, smartphone manufacturers can receive tax benefits by producing devices locally and investing capital in the country.

Rectifying Invoicing Problems: Samsung is Working to Resolve the Issue

According to a report by The Economic Times, Samsung may have to forgo tax benefits for the initial year of the PLI scheme due to discrepancies in its invoicing process. The South Korean company has acknowledged the issue and is currently engaged in advanced discussions with the Indian government to resolve the matter. In its claim for incentives, Samsung reported a total of INR 9 billion (approximately $108 million) based on achieving INR 150 billion (around $1.81 billion) worth of additional sales in FY21 compared to the previous year.

To qualify for these incentives, Samsung needed to manufacture phones with a factory cost of approximately INR 15,000 ($200). However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) discovered inconsistencies in Samsung’s invoices, resulting in the temporary withholding of payment by officials.

A government official familiar with the situation has confirmed that Samsung has rectified the invoicing issue, ensuring the accuracy of its invoices. However, the official indicated that the tax benefits for the first year may be irretrievable, implying that Samsung may not receive the eligible incentives. Nevertheless, the company remains eligible for tax benefits for the financial year 2022. In contrast, other manufacturers such as Foxconn and Wistron have already received their tax incentives from the Indian government.

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Indian government bans 14 mobile apps used for terror activities

Soumyakanti — Tue, 02 May 2023 14:01:43 +0000

The Indian government has banned 14 mobile apps after intelligence agencies reported that these apps were being used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and spread terror propaganda. This move comes in compliance with Section 69A of the country’s IT law, which empowers the government to block access to any information that is considered a threat to national security.

Credit: Reuters

The apps that were banned on May 1st do not have representatives in India, making it difficult to track down activities happening on the app. This move brings the total number of banned apps to 288, with the previous bans targeting apps with connections to China, which the government deemed prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.

The banned apps include popular messaging and chat applications such as IMO, Element, and Threema, as well as file-sharing and storage apps such as Mediafire. The ban also includes apps that offer end-to-end encryption, such as Enigma, Wickrme, and Crypviser, which are popular among privacy advocates.

List of 14 apps that are banned:

Crypviser
Enigma
Safeswiss
Wickrme
Mediafire
Briar
BChat
Nandbox
Conion
IMO
Element
Second line
Zangi
Threema

The government had previously banned 59 mobile apps in June 2020, 118 apps including PUBG Mobile in September 2020, 43 apps including AliExpress in November 2020, and 54 apps including Tencent-backed Garena’s Free Fire in February 2022. The bans on these apps were also made under Section 69A of the IT law, with the government citing national security concerns and threats to public order.

The ban on these apps is expected to be enforced soon, with Google and Apple notifying developers to remove them from their app stores. This move is part of the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and preserve national security by regulating the use of mobile apps and other digital technologies.

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Indian Government Considers New Security Rules for Smartphone Makers

Soumyakanti — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:45:32 +0000

India is reportedly planning to introduce new security rules that would force smartphone manufacturers to allow the removal of pre-installed apps and mandate screening of major operating system updates. The rules are being considered amid concerns about spying and abuse of user data. The move could extend launch timelines in the world’s second-largest smartphone market and lead to losses in business from pre-installed apps for players including Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Apple.

Courtesy: Unsplash.com

The Indian government is considering the new rules to ensure that pre-installed apps are not weak security points that could be exploited by foreign nations, including China, said a senior government official. The government has ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses since a 2020 border clash between the two nations, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok.

Under the new rules, smartphone makers will have to provide an uninstall option for pre-installed apps, and new models will be checked for compliance by a lab authorized by the Bureau of Indian Standards agency. The government is also considering mandating screening of every major operating system update before it is rolled out to consumers.

India’s fast-growing smartphone market is dominated by Chinese players, with Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo accounting for almost half of all sales, while Samsung has a 20% share and Apple has 3%. The companies and India’s IT ministry have not responded to a Reuters request for comment.

However, the new rules could pose challenges for smartphone manufacturers, particularly for those that sell their devices with proprietary apps or pre-install others with which they have monetization agreements. Some industry executives have expressed concerns that more testing could prolong approval timelines for smartphones and hinder a company’s go-to-market strategy. Nonetheless, the Indian government has decided to give smartphone makers a year to comply with the new rules once they come into effect, the date for which has not been fixed yet.

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Esports is officially recognized as a sport by the Indian Govt

Sean — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:13:32 +0000

Esports is being officially recognized by the Indian government. The term basically means video games that are played on a competitive level with spectators and are finally being recognized as an actual sport.

Esports finally recognized as a sports in India.#esports #indianesports #sports #teamindia #india @rashtrapatibhvn @narendramodi @narendramodi @ianuragthakur @KirenRijiju @NisithPramanik @Rajeev_GoI @WeAreTeamIndia @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/k6qlMZ00rE
— Esports Federation of India (@esfindia) December 27, 2022

The Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will now also be authorized for the esports category. As per official notes, video games will also be recognized as a competitive spectator sport since athletes also use their physical and mental abilities to compete with one another in varying genres of games. This marks a major shift since the Indian Esports Industry has pushed for such an official recognition for a while now.

So now, competitive gaming will have a lot more depth to their structure since the umbrella term of “Gaming” will also be included in the official multi sports sections. Thus, all tournaments will also be treated with the same gravity as any other form of physical competition. Furthermore, this move will also help create a more budding environment around esports and also push the gaming industry in the region. India has already hosted the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, and now, they can finally be a great competitor in the esports category as well.

According to Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), “Great news for us to begin the New Year. We have been constantly working on establishing the difference between esports and iGaming, and finally, our efforts have been fulfilled. We welcome this announcement by our government under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi ji, which will open new avenues to pour in more investment opportunities in this booming industry.”

Government of India Drafts A New Law To Avoid Fake Reviews on E-Commerce Platforms

Chandan — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:11:07 +0000

To make online engagement and e-commerce more real and less deceptive for customers, the Government of India initiated a campaign against bogus reviews and unverified ratings. The government has set up a system for businesses like Google, Facebook and Meta Platform, Amazon.com, travel websites, and food delivery applications that rely on customer evaluations to verify goods and services. Sales and interest from prospective customers are increased by favourable ratings.

But often, the brand displays fake reviews that are consistently positive about the goods and services, and this undoubtedly influences the user’s purchasing choice. Consumers and other industry professionals have criticised some businesses for suppressing bad reviews or accepting fake ratings, which makes the due diligence process for buyers challenging.

According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the Department of Consumer Affairs established a committee in June to create a framework for identifying fraudulent and misleading reviews in e-commerce.
The founder of LocalCircles, a community platform and pollster that made the initial submission to the Department of Consumer Affairs and participated in the committee drafting the guidelines, Sachin Taparia, stated that the new rules for online reviews are “designed to drive increased transparency for both consumers and brands and promote information accuracy.”

According to Taparia, “the new regulations will force platforms like Google and Facebook to verify the genuine person behind the review by established 6-8 procedures, meaning fraudulent accounts created only for review authoring will eventually disappear or won’t be allowed to review. He further notes that if the standards are made mandatory, businesses may be held liable for unfair business practices, the suppression of bad reviews, or the facilitation of the planting of false reviews.

“This should not be bulldozed, please. We shall first observe that these rules are being followed voluntarily. And should the threat persist, we may make this a requirement “Reporters in New Delhi were warned by Rohit Kumar Singh, secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs. However, there are no proper information about the draft framework yet. We will update you if the law gets imposed officially.

India may adopt USB-C as common charging port for mobile devices like EU: Report

Sean — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:56:18 +0000

India might soon be adopting a policy similar to the European Union in terms of having a single common charging standard for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and certain other consumer electronic products.

According to a News18 report, the government has apparently called a meeting for all industry stakeholders, which will be held on August 17. As per the PTI report, the government aims on holding a discussion to remove the use of different chargers. The primary intention behind this is to both reduce the burden on consumers and also prevent unnecessary electronic waste. This move by the Indian government would be in line with the standards being adopted by the European Union.

For those unaware, the EU has been pushing tech based brands to adopt a universal charging port standard with the USB Type C. This rule will be enforced by the year 2024 in the region and it appears that India plans on have adopting a similar mandate. As per the government official speaking to PTI, “If companies can serve in Europe and the US, why cannot they do it in India? Portable electronic devices like smartphones and tablets should have a common charger.”

At the moment, major smartphone brands like Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, and more have already adopted USB Type C port a while ago. However, Apple is the only top smartphones brand that has yet to adopt this standard as it still ships its products with its proprietary Lightning Port for the iPhone.

India might not ban Chinese Smartphones under Rs 12,000: Report

Sean — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:35:33 +0000

We had recently covered on a report regarding the Indian government possibly banning smartphones made by Chinese brands that are priced under 12,000 INR (roughly 150 US Dollars) in the Indian smartphone market. But now, a new report has hinted that this might not be the case anymore.

Lava Blaze

For those unaware, the earlier report talked about government officials stating that the move to ban cheaper smartphones from China is to better promote local brands and help them gain a stronger standing in the Indian market. At the moment, handsets made by Chinese OEMs are the most popular models in the region. But it appears that the might not be put into effect. According to a CNBC TV18 report, the government has no immediate plans for such ban as of right now.

The report further adds that even if such a ban is conceptualized by the government, actually enforcing it is a different task entirely. It won’t be so easy and an industry expert claims that three out of every 10 smartphone sold in India is priced under 12,000 INR. And in this price segment, 78 percent of all smartphones sold are made by China based brands. This basically means that these Chinese brands have a dominance in this category of handsets.

Karbonn X21

On the other hand, brands from the US like Apple, and South Korean tech giant Samsung account for just 20 percent of the Indian market. So, a bit more than just 1 percent of all smartphones sold in India are from Indian companies, like Micromax, Lava, and Karbonn. Thus, it won’t be surprising if the Indian government actually has plans for the future to better even out the playing field for different brands.

VPN firms unlikely to comply with Indian government’s mandate

Sudhanshu — Tue, 10 May 2022 15:24:00 +0000

Last week, the Indian government issued an order which required VPN (Virtual Private Network) based companies to collect and provide it with user data.

The order, issued by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), which is a department under the Ministry of Electronics and IT requires these companies to collect sensitive user data like IP addresses, usage patterns, etc, and store it for up to 5 years before eventually handing it over to the government whenever asked. Failing to comply with these orders can result in prison sentences of up to a year under Section 70B(7).

The government has stated that this move is aimed at “coordinate response activities as well as emergency measures with respect to cyber security incidents.”

As you can imagine, this is a direct step against data privacy. And it appears that major VPN companies operating in India are unlikely to comply with these orders according to recent statements issued by them.

Laura Tyrylyte, who is the security spokesperson for NordVPN said “We are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers, therefore, we may remove our servers from India if no other options are left.”

Express VPN also issued a statement saying “VPNs are critical for user safety and the preservation of user’s right to online privacy and are fundamentally opposed to any efforts to undermine such technologies.”

Shurfshark VPN’s legal head Gytis Malinauskas has said that “We operate only with RAM-only servers, which means that at this moment, even technically, we would not be able to comply with the logging requirements.

Going by the statements of these major VPN service providers and their firm stance against the Indian Government’s mandate, it could be possible that these companies might soon stop providing their services in India. The last date for complying with the CERT-in’s directive is June 27th, 2022, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.