India Cracks Down On Low-Quality Screen Protectors

The Indian government has brought smartphone screen protectors under a mandatory registration rule, effective April 1, 2027, to curb sales of low-quality products and promote domestic manufacturing. This move is expected to generate jobs, contribute to GST revenues, and strengthen India's potential as a global manufacturing hub for screen protectors.

The domestic market for tempered glass screen protectors is estimated at 400 million pieces with a retail value of Rs 20,000 crore in 2025. The introduction of mandatory BIS standards for screen protectors is expected to generate around 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The move is expected to contribute an estimated Rs 2,000 crore in GST revenues. Optiemus Infracom plans to increase its screen protector manufacturing capacity by 2 crore units to meet emerging demand. The market for screen protectors is estimated to be around 500 million units a year.

## What changed Smartphone screen protectors are the 66th item to be notified under the rule. Other items in the list include smartphones, laptops, mobile and laptop chargers, LED televisions, microwave ovens, printers, and set-top boxes, among others.

## Why it matters The move will catalyse a Rs 12,000-16,000 crore quality-driven industry. According to industry experts, the introduction of mandatory BIS standards for screen protectors marks an important milestone for the category and a welcome step towards building a quality-led, Made-in-India ecosystem. This will protect consumers from sub-standard products while creating a level playing field for domestic manufacturers and global companies alike.

The Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2021, applies to screen protectors for smartphones with effect from April 1, 2027. With this move, India is expected to become a significant player in the global screen protector market, promoting domestic manufacturing and generating employment opportunities.