Indian Customs List of Prohibited Items (Updated 2023)

The NRI Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 25 October 2023.

Every country has their own Customs list of prohibited and restricted items, and India is no exception. There are many things that you cannot bring into the country, whether it’s due to concerns about security or simply because they are illegal.

It is the responsibility of Indian Customs to prevent the illegal import of prohibited items from entering the country. If you’re planning on travelling to India, make sure you familiarize yourself with the Indian Customs list of prohibited items so that you don’t end up having your belongings confiscated or worse, getting arrested.

Here is a breakdown of some of the most common items prohibited for air travellers to India.

The below information has been prepared after studying the Indian Baggage Rules and traveller guidelines issued by the Central Board of Indirect Customs and Taxes.

What are Prohibited Goods in Customs?

Prohibited goods are items that are legally banned for import to or export from a country. Examples include goods which may cause social, health, environmental, wildlife, or security problems.

Indian Customs List of Prohibited Items

The latest version of the Official Travellers Guide published by the Indian Government’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) lists the following items as Prohibited Goods:

• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances
• Pornographic material
• Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights
• Antiquities
• Firearms
• Maps and literature where India’s external boundaries are shown incorrectly
• Wildlife products
• Counterfeit Indian Currency notes, stamps and coins
• Specified live birds and animals
• Fake currency notes

Indian Customs List of Restricted Items

CBIC has also listed the following items as Restricted Goods:

• Ammunition
• Live birds and animals including pets
• Plants and their produce e.g. fruits, and seeds
• Endangered species of plants and animals, whether alive or dead
• Any goods for commercial purpose: for profit, gain or commercial usage
• Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage
• Gold and Silver, other than ornaments (for import only)
• Indian and foreign currency in excess of prescribed limits
• Satellite phones
• Drones
• Foreign currency in excess of the amount legally obtained or in the case of tourists in excess of the amount declared on arrival or in excess of the exempted limit of the declaration at the time of departure.

These goods can only be imported after obtaining special permits and paying Customs duty if applicable. There are also restrictions on the number of such goods.

Passengers who are moving permanently to India after a period of stay abroad are eligible to import some of these goods using the Transfer of Residence (TR) facility. You can read more about Transfer of Residence to India Customs Rules here.

India Customs Food Restrictions

Regular foods for personal consumption (in small quantities) are allowed for all passengers. However, you have to declare to Customs if you are bringing meat, meat products, dairy products, fish or poultry products.

Green Channel and Red Channel at Indian Airports

At all Indian airports, there are two channels to choose from for customs clearance:

• Green Channel: meant for passengers carrying no dutiable or prohibited goods
• Red Channel: for passengers carrying dutiable or prohibited goods

Please note that those who opt for the Green Channel with dutiable, restricted, or prohibited goods are subject to prosecution/penalties and confiscation.

If you have any dutiable or prohibited goods, you can make a declaration using the Indian Customs Declaration Form or the Atithi mobile app and go through the Red Channel. Even if you are not sure about any item, you can go to the Red Channel and seek assistance from an officer.

List of Items Prohibited by Airlines

Apart from the items banned by Indian Customs, below are some items that are usually prohibited by airlines due to safety or security issues. If needed, you can check with your airline for confirmation:

Items Not Allowed in Hand Baggage

Personal Items

• E-cigarettes
• Lighters
• Scissors-metal with pointed tips
• Realistic replica of a toy weapon

Sharp Objects

• Box Cutters
• Ice Axes/ Ice Picks
• Knives (any length and type except round-bladed, butter, and plastic cutlery)
• Meat Cleavers
• Razor-type blades such as box cutters, utility knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, but excluding safety razors
• Sabres
• Scissors – metal with pointed tips
• Swords

Sporting Goods

• Baseball Bats
• Bows and Arrows
• Cricket Bats
• Golf Clubs
• Hockey Sticks
• Lacrosse Sticks
• Pool Cues
• Ski Poles
• Spear Guns

Guns and Firearms

• Ammunition
• BB Guns
• Compressed Air Guns
• Firearms
• Flare Guns
• Gun Lighters
• Gun Powder
• Parts of Guns and Firearms
• Pellet Guns
• Realistic Replicas of Firearms
• Starter pistols

Tools

• Axes and hatchets
• Cattle Prods
• Crowbars
• Hammers
• Drills (including cordless portables power drills)
• Saws (including cordless portable power saws)
• Screwdrivers (except those in eyeglass repair kits)
• Tools (including but not limited to wrenches and pliers)
• Wrenches and Pliers

Martial Arts / Self-Defense Items

• Billy Clubs
• Black Jacks
• Brass Knuckles
• Kubatons
• Mace/ Pepper Spray
• Martial Arts Weapons
• Night Sticks
• Nunchakus
• Martial Arts/Self-Defense Items
• Stun Guns/ Shocking Devices
• Throwing Stars

Explosive Materials

• Blasting Caps
• Dynamite
• Fireworks
• Flares (in any form)
• Hand Grenades
• Plastic Explosives
• Realistic Replicas of Explosives

Flammable items

• Liquid/Aerosol/Gel/Paste or items of similar consistency (Allowed separately, in small quantities required for the duration of the journey, in one clear transparent re-sealable one-litre size plastic bag. Each item should, however, not exceed 100 ml in quantity). Exception: Medicine/inhaler accompanied by prescription and baby food.
• Fuels (Including cooking fuels and any flammable liquid fuel)
• Gasoline
• Gas Torches
• Lighter Fluid
• Strike-anywhere Matches
• Turpentine and Paint Thinner
• Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries

Disabling Chemicals and Other Dangerous Items

• Chlorine for Pools and Spas
• Compressed Gas Cylinders (including fire extinguishers)
• Liquid Bleach
• Spillable Batteries (except those in wheelchairs)
• Spray Paint
• Tear Gas

This is only an indicative list of items. Despite this, common sense should prevail in determining whether an object may be used as a weapon for interfering with civil aviation operations.

Items Not Allowed in Check-in Baggage

The following items are not allowed in check-in baggage for most airlines:

• Compressed gases (deeply refrigerated, flammable, non-flammable and poisonous such as butane oxygen, liquid nitrogen, aqualung cylinders and compressed gas cylinders)
• Corrosives (like acids, alkalis, mercury and wet cell batteries and apparatus containing mercury)
• Explosives, ammunitions, fireworks and flares, ammunition including blank cartridges, handguns, fireworks, pistol caps
• Flammable liquids and solids (like lighter refills, lighter fuel, matches, paints, thinners, fire-lighters, lighters that need inverting before ignition, matches, radioactive material, briefcases and attached cases with installed alarm devices
• Oxidizing materials (like bleaching powder and peroxides)
• Poisons and infectious substances (like insecticides, weed-killers and live virus materials)
• E-cigarettes
• Anything that possesses and/or is capable of possessing and/or emitting a conspicuous and/or offensive odour
• Other dangerous articles such as magnetized materials, offensive or irritating materials

For the following items, please check directly with your airline:

• Batteries and Battery-powered Devices
• Portable medical electronic devices (PMED)
• Portable electronic devices, such as power tools, video cameras and laptops
• Battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids
• Personal Motorised Vehicles
• Fuel and fuel cartridges

What Happens to Prohibited Items in Customs

Under the Customs Act of 1962, a non-declaration, misdeclaration, or concealment of imports is an offence punishable by confiscation, fine, penalty, or even prosecution.

If a passenger is caught with prohibited items, the goods will be confiscated and the passenger may face legal actions depending on the nature of the goods. These may include a fine, penalties on individuals or concerned entities, arrest and prosecution or even preventive detention in cases of grave violations.

Please note that ignorance of the law doesn’t immune you from the legal consequences.

Temporary Detention of Baggage

However, if a passenger willingly declares an article which is dutiable or the import of which is prohibited, the Customs officer may detain that article for the purpose of being returned to the passenger on his leaving India.

If the passenger is not able to collect the article at the time of his leaving India, the article may be returned to him through any other passenger leaving India in his name or as cargo consigned in his name (Customs Act, 1962, Section 80)

Conclusion

Please remember that Customs officers in India have the authority to question you and examine your personal property. In the event that you are selected to be questioned/examined, you have the right to be treated politely, professionally and respectfully. At the same time, you are also responsible for cooperating with Customs officers in case of an examination.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Related Articles:

1. Indian Customs Duty-Free Allowance Rules
2. Indian Customs Rules For Electronic Items
3. Customs Duty Calculator for LCD/LED Television
4. Indian Customs Gold Allowance and Import Rules

Copyright © NRIGuides.com – Unauthorized reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited. The information provided on this website is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, and travellers are encouraged to verify visa requirements and travel advisories through official government sources before making any travel arrangements.

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Sources: Airport Authority of India, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security