Prohibited and Restricted Goods To/From India

Certain goods are prohibited (banned) or restricted (subject to certain conditions) for import and/or export. These are goods of social, health, environment, wildlife, and security concerns. There is no complete and exhaustive list of all the goods, some of them are listed below:

Prohibited Goods

• Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
• Pornographic and obscene material
• Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights
• Antiquities
• Aero models (such as remote-controlled toy helicopters) that operate on high radio bandwidths because of their possible interference with the communication networks of security agencies.
• Indian coins which are covered by the Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• Maps and literature where Indian external boundaries have been shown incorrectly, in view of the Government of India.
• Chemicals mentioned in Schedule 1 to the Chemical Weapons Convention of U.N. 1993.
• Wildlife products
  1. Human skeleton
  2. Specified sea-shells
  3. Beef, tallow, fat/oil of animal origin
  4. Exotic birds except for a few specified ones
  5. Wild animals, their parts and products
  6. Specified Live birds and animals

Restricted Goods

• Firearms and ammunition
• Live birds and animals including pets
• Plants and their produce e.g. fruits, seeds
• Endangered species of plants and animals, whether alive or dead.
• Any goods for commercial purposes: for profit, gain, or commercial usage.
• Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage
• Importing Gold and Silver, other than ornaments
• Currency in excess of prescribed limits
• Telephone and telephony equipment of restricted frequencies
• Medicines and drugs
• Certain Animals – Camel, Horses, Cattle
• Semi processed hides and skins
• Silkworms, silkworm seeds, and cocoons
• Family Planning Devices (NOC from Ministry of Health Required)
• Vintage products, replicas of antiques or weapons
• Sand and soil
• Whole human blood plasma and certain products derived from human blood
• Sandal-wood (except handicraft products & oil)