Government Considers Crackdown on Subpar Smartphone Tempered Glass Imports

India Moves to Restrict Tempered Glass Screen Protector Imports

The Indian government is set to bring tempered glass screen protectors under mandatory quality certification norms, a move that could significantly alter the country's smartphone accessories market. According to people aware of the discussions, the government held stakeholder consultations on May 11 on making quality certification mandatory for screen protectors under the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) framework.

The proposed standards are expected to cover parameters such as impact resistance, material quality, transparency, and durability. This move is expected to increase scrutiny on imported products entering through informal channels while creating a level playing field for organised domestic manufacturers capable of meeting BIS-linked compliance requirements.

India's smartphone accessories market consumes more than 550 million units annually and remains heavily dependent on low-cost imports, particularly from China and other Asian manufacturing hubs. The localisation push aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent call for reducing dependence on imported products and saving foreign exchange reserves by encouraging domestic manufacturing and greater use of indigenous products.

Read also: Treasury Yields Experience Largest Increase in Two Weeks Following Release of Labor Market Data

The proposal could create a major opportunity for domestic manufacturers as the government expands its electronics localisation push beyond smartphones into components and accessories. Tempered glass and smartphone cover glass have largely been imported into India so far, making local production strategically important for the electronics supply chain.

Industry Support for Mandatory Quality Standards

The industry consensus is broadly in favour of bringing tempered glass screen protectors under mandatory quality standards and restricting non-compliant imports. Most stakeholders, including MSMEs, support the move because the market today is flooded with low-quality imported products. Brands like Oppo, Vivo, or Samsung are not directly manufacturing these accessories themselves, making it an ancillary ecosystem that Indian manufacturers believe they can compete effectively if low-quality imports are regulated.

Stricter standards could improve consumer safety and help formalise a market currently dominated by cheaper unregulated products. The industry sees significant long-term manufacturing potential in the category because of the frequency with which consumers replace screen protectors.

Read also: US-Iran Tensions Spark Uptick in Oil Prices Amid Global Market Decline

Optiemus Investment in Tempered Glass Manufacturing

The proposed import restrictions come at a time when domestic companies are ramping up investments in tempered glass manufacturing capacity. Optiemus Infracom, an Indian electronics manufacturing company, launched RhinoTech on August 13, 2025, a locally manufactured smartphone screen protector brand developed at its Noida facility using technology from Corning Incorporated, the US specialty glass maker known for Gorilla Glass used in smartphones.

Note: The sales figures are based on market estimates and may not reflect the companies' actual sales data.