For nearly a decade, this was the question every Indian CCTV buyer asked. Walk into any security shop from Srinagar to Chennai and you'd hear the same three names — Hikvision, CP Plus, Dahua — and the same friendly argument about which one deserved your money.

We've sold all three brands for years. We've installed them in homes, shops, offices, and factories. So when we say this comparison used to come down to "it depends on your budget and needs" — that's not diplomacy, that's just how close the race was.

Then, on April 1, 2026, the Indian government changed the answer for everyone.

If you're comparing these three brands today, you're not just choosing between cameras anymore. You're navigating a completely new rulebook. So here's the honest, updated picture — what each brand was, what just happened, and what you should actually buy now.

First, the short answer

If you don't want to read the whole story, here it is:

From April 1, 2026, new internet-connected CCTV cameras from Hikvision and Dahua can no longer be legally sold in India, because they haven't cleared the government's mandatory STQC security certification. CP Plus is certified and has become the default choice for new installations — and honestly, it was already India's most popular brand before this happened.

If you already own Hikvision or Dahua cameras — relax. They keep working. The rule applies to new sales, not to systems already installed in your home or business.

Now, the full story — because the details matter, and because there's a lot of confusion (and some misinformation) floating around.

The three brands, as they've always been

Let's give credit where it's due, because this next part is important: none of this happened because these were bad products. Quite the opposite.

Hikvision is the world's largest video surveillance manufacturer. For years it set the technology benchmark — its ColorVu cameras could show full-colour video in near-darkness, and its AcuSense AI could tell a human from a stray dog before sending you an alert. Premium products, deep catalogue, genuinely excellent engineering.

Dahua is the world's number two, and it always played the smart challenger — matching Hikvision's technology almost feature-for-feature, usually at a slightly friendlier price. For value-focused buyers and large projects, Dahua was often the sweet spot.

CP Plus is India's own giant. It may not have had the global glamour of the other two, but it had something arguably more valuable here: the largest sales and service network in the country. Walk into practically any town in India and you'll find a CP Plus dealer, a service centre, and an installer who knows the products inside out. For homes and small businesses, that accessibility made CP Plus the volume king of the Indian market long before 2026.

So if all three were good — what changed?

What happened in April 2026 (explained simply)

Back in April 2024, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced new "Essential Requirements" for all internet-connected CCTV cameras sold in India. The core rule: every such camera must pass a government security test called STQC certification (Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification).

To pass, manufacturers had to do three things: declare where their camera's main chip (the SoC — the "brain" of the camera) comes from, prove the camera has no cybersecurity holes like hidden backdoors or unauthorised remote access, and verify the integrity of their firmware.

Brands got a two-year window to comply. That window closed on March 31, 2026.

Here's where the road split:

• CP Plus used those two years to overhaul its supply chain — moving away from Chinese chipsets to Taiwanese and Singapore-based ones — and got its cameras certified. It now has around 45 STQC-certified models and counting.
• Hikvision and Dahua did not make it through. The government has declined to certify cameras built on Chinese-origin chipsets, which covers their standard product lines. Dahua has no certified models. And despite what some dealers claim, as of mid-2026 no Hikvision-branded camera appears on the official STQC certified list either. (Hikvision's Indian joint venture does sell certified cameras — but under the Prama brand, which is a separate label.)

The result: from April 1, 2026, selling new internet-connected Hikvision or Dahua cameras in India is effectively illegal. The market has shifted almost overnight — Indian brands now account for over 80% of CCTV sales in the country, a complete reversal from just a couple of years ago when Chinese brands held a third of the market.

"So is my existing Hikvision/Dahua system now useless?"

No. Let's kill this fear right away, because it's causing unnecessary panic.

Your installed cameras keep working exactly as before. The ban is on new sales, not on systems already running in homes and businesses. Your recordings continue, your mobile app continues, nothing switches off.

What changes is the road ahead:

• Repairs and replacements for these brands will get harder over time as official new stock dries up. If a camera fails a few years from now, you'll likely replace it with a certified brand rather than like-for-like.
• Expanding your system? Add certified cameras. Thanks to the ONVIF standard, most modern IP cameras from different brands can work with existing NVRs — a decent installer can mix old and new sensibly.
• Buying "new" Hikvision or Dahua stock someone offers you? Be very careful. If a dealer claims a specific model is STQC certified, ask for the certificate number and verify it on the official STQC portal yourself. If they can't show a valid certificate, walk away — you'd be buying a product with no legal standing, no future support, and no warranty safety net.

 

The 2026 comparison, then — who actually wins?

Let's do the honest scorecard, updated for reality:

*Hikvision's Indian JV sells certified cameras under the separate Prama brand.

So the honest verdict for 2026 is simpler than it's ever been:

For new installations, CP Plus wins — and not just by forfeit. Even before the rules changed, it was India's volume leader for good reasons: unbeatable service reach, honest pricing, and products that have quietly closed most of the technology gap. Add STQC certification and Made-in-India manufacturing, and it's now both the compliant choice and the practical one. Other certified Indian options like Prama and Matrix are also worth a look, especially for enterprise-grade projects.

For existing owners, Hikvision and Dahua remain what they always were — excellent hardware. Run your system, maintain it well, and plan any future expansion around certified brands.

One nuance worth knowing: the STQC mandate specifically targets internet-connected cameras. But practically speaking, almost every modern setup gets connected for mobile viewing — so our straightforward advice is to simply buy certified, full stop, and never have to think about it again.

What this means when you buy your next system

A few practical rules we're now telling every customer:

Ask for the STQC certificate. For any internet-connected camera, a legitimate dealer should be able to show you the model's certification. Verify the certificate number on the STQC portal if you have any doubt. This one habit protects you from grey-market stock completely.

Don't fall for "last chance" Hikvision/Dahua offers. Deep discounts on uncertified stock aren't a bargain — they're someone clearing inventory they can no longer legally sell. You'd inherit the problem.

Judge the installer as much as the brand. This was true before 2026 and it's true now: a well-planned CP Plus system beats a badly installed anything. Camera placement, cabling quality, and after-sales support decide your real-world experience far more than the logo does. (If you're planning a home setup, our guide on how many CCTV cameras a 2BHK apartment needs walks you through placement properly.)

Understand what you're buying. Whether you go for a DVR-based analog setup or an NVR-based IP system changes your options — our plain-English DVR vs NVR guide explains the difference, and if you're weighing camera types, start with analog vs IP cameras.

The bottom line

For years, "Hikvision vs CP Plus vs Dahua" was a genuine three-way contest, and we happily sold all three depending on what suited the customer. That era ended in April 2026.

Today the answer is refreshingly simple: for anything new, buy STQC-certified — and for most Indian homes, shops, and offices, that means CP Plus. For what you already own, keep calm and carry on; your cameras don't know about the news and will keep doing their job.

And if you want zero guesswork, that's literally what we're here for. Tell us what you're securing — home, shop, office, or something bigger — and we'll put together a fully certified setup that fits your budget.

Shop certified, worry-free CCTV

• 🔹 CCTV Combo Kits — complete certified camera sets with recorder, hard disk, cables and power supply
• 🔹 Wired HD Cameras — dependable coverage for doors and entry points
• 🔹 Wired IP Cameras — high-resolution systems for serious setups
• 🔹 Smart Wi-Fi Cameras — easy indoor monitoring from your phone

Questions about your existing Hikvision or Dahua system, or planning a new certified one? Call +91 9103877377 or email ecom@askmesolutions.in — we'll give you straight answers and the right setup, free of cost. For societies, institutions, and large projects, reach our team on +91 9103877377.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Hikvision banned in India?

Effectively, yes — for new sales. From April 1, 2026, internet-connected CCTV cameras cannot be legally sold in India without STQC certification, and as of mid-2026 no Hikvision-branded camera appears on the official certified list, since the government has declined to certify cameras using Chinese-origin chipsets. Hikvision's Indian joint venture sells certified cameras under the separate Prama brand. Existing installed Hikvision cameras continue to work normally.

2. Is Dahua banned in India?

Yes, for new sales. Dahua has no STQC-certified camera models, which means new internet-connected Dahua cameras cannot legally be sold in India from April 1, 2026. Cameras already installed before the deadline continue to function — the restriction applies to new sales, not existing systems.

3. Will my existing Hikvision or Dahua cameras stop working?

No. The STQC rules apply to the sale of new cameras, not to installations already in place. Your existing cameras, recorders, and mobile apps continue working exactly as before. However, official new stock for repairs and replacements will become scarce over time, so any future expansion or replacement is best done with STQC-certified brands like CP Plus, Prama, or Matrix.

4. Which is the best CCTV brand in India in 2026?

For new installations, CP Plus is the best choice for most Indian buyers in 2026. It is fully STQC certified (around 45 models), manufactured in India with non-Chinese chipsets, competitively priced, and backed by the largest sales and service network in the country. Other certified brands worth considering include Prama and Matrix, particularly for enterprise-grade projects.

5. What is STQC certification and how do I check it before buying a CCTV camera?

STQC (Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification) is a mandatory government security certification for all internet-connected CCTV cameras sold in India from April 1, 2026. It verifies the origin of the camera's chipset, tests for cybersecurity vulnerabilities like backdoors, and checks firmware integrity. Before buying, ask your dealer for the model's STQC certificate number and verify it on the official STQC portal — if no valid certificate exists, don't buy the camera.

 

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Ask Me Solutions has partnered with India's leading security brands — including CP Plus, Hikvision, and Dahua — for years, and today supplies fully STQC-certified CCTV systems for new installations across India. Based in Srinagar, J&K.