HS Chapter 90: Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking

The First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 heads chapter 90 as “Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof”. Every tariff item in chapter 90 that this dataset carries a duty and a tax rate for, listed by heading so a code can be found by reading rather than by guessing. The rates sit on the code itself: open any item for the standard rate of basic customs duty from the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, the integrated tax beside it, the surcharge and cess on top with the base each is charged on, and the part a duty-credit scrip can pay.

Heading 9001: Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles

Heading 9002: Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted

Heading 9003: Frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts thereof

Heading 9004: Spectacles, goggles and the like, corrective, protective or other

Heading 9005: Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, and mountings therefor

Heading 9006: Photographic (other than cinematographic) cameras

Heading 9007: Cinematographic cameras and projectors

Heading 9008: Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic

Heading 9010: Apparatus and equipment for photographic

Heading 9011: Compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicro-graphy

Heading 9012: Microscopes other than optical microscopes; diffraction apparatus

Heading 9013: Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments

Heading 9014: Direction finding compasses; other navigational instruments and appliances

Heading 9015: Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic

Heading 9016: Balances of a sensitivity of 5 cg or better, with or without weights

Heading 9017: Drawing, marking-out or mathematical calculating instruments

Heading 9018: Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences

CodeDescription
9018 11 00Electro-cardiographs
9018 12 10Linear ultrasound scanner
9018 12 90Other
9018 13 00Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
9018 14 00Scientigraphic apparatus
9018 19 10Electro encephalographs
9018 19 20Echo cardiograph
9018 19 90Other
9018 20 00Ultra-violet or infra-red ray apparatus
9018 31 00Syringes, with or without needles
9018 32 10Needles for suture
9018 32 20Hollow needles for injection, aspiration, biopsy and transfusion
9018 32 30Hilerio venus fistula needles
9018 32 90Other
9018 39 10Catheters (for urine, stool)
9018 39 20Cardiac catheters
9018 39 30Cannulae
9018 39 90Other sciences
9018 41 00Dental drill engines, whether or not combined on a single base with other dental equipment
9018 49 00Other
9018 50 10Ophthalmoscopes
9018 50 20Tonometers
9018 50 30Ophthalmic lasers
9018 50 90Other
9018 90 11Instrument and apparatus for measuring blood pressure
9018 90 12Stethoscopes
9018 90 19Other
9018 90 21Bone saws, drills and trephines
9018 90 22Knives, scissors and blades
9018 90 23Forceps, forcep clamps, clips, needle holders, introducers, cephalotribe bone holding and other holding instruments
9018 90 24Chisel, gauges, elevators, raspatones, osteotome, craniotome, bone cutters
9018 90 25Retractors, spatulaprobes, hooks dialators, sounds, mallets
9018 90 29Other transfusion apparatus
9018 90 31Artificial kidney (dialysis) apparatus
9018 90 32Blood transfusion apparatus instruments, acupuncture apparatus, and endoscopes
9018 90 41Anesthetic apparatus and instruments
9018 90 42ENT precision instruments
9018 90 43Acupuncture apparatus
9018 90 44Endoscopes
9018 90 91Hilerial or venous shunts
9018 90 92Baby incubators
9018 90 93Heart-lung machines
9018 90 94Defibrillators
9018 90 95Fibrescopes
9018 90 96Laproscopes
9018 90 97Vetrasonic lithotripsy instruments
9018 90 98Apparatus for nerve stimulation
9018 90 99Other

Heading 9019: Mechano-therapy appliances; massage apparatus; psychological aptitude-testing apparatus

Heading 9020

Heading 9021: Orthopaedic appliances, including crutches, surgical belts and trusses

Heading 9022: Apparatus based on the use of x- rays or of alpha

Heading 9023: Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes

Heading 9024: Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility

Heading 9025: Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers

Heading 9026: Instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level

Heading 9027: Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis

Heading 9028: Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters

Heading 9029: Revolution counters, production counters, taximeters, mileometers

Heading 9030: Oscilloscopes

Heading 9031: Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines

Heading 9032: Automatic regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus

Heading 9033

Reading the duty column

The duty shown is the standard rate in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. It is not the whole bill and it is often not the rate a consignment is finally assessed at. On top of it sits the Social Welfare Surcharge at ten per cent of the duty under section 110 of the Finance Act, 2018, then integrated tax on the value plus those duties under section 3(8) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, and compensation cess on the same base under section 3(9) where the goods attract it.

Four things are outside every figure in this chapter, and each of them can move a Bill of Entry on its own. An exemption notification, which a great many consignments are assessed under and which this site does not apply. The Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess under section 124 of the Finance Act, 2021. A duty the schedule states per unit rather than as a percentage. And an anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard duty on the line. The calculator works the whole stack.

The run on 18 August 2026 found no Integrated Tax (Rate) notification newer than the ones this dataset already carries, and no disagreement across the 447 duty codes it sampled against ICEGATE. Duty rates change by notification, and a notification can take effect the day it is issued. Confirm against the tariff in force before you file a Bill of Entry.

Chapter 89: Ships, boats and floating structuresEvery chapterChapter 91: Clocks and watches and parts thereof

For importers

Pay the basic customs duty line with a scrip, not cash.

Money locked before the scrip moves. Settlement the same business day.