In 2014-15 India's imports of toys (HSN 9503, 9504 and 9505) were US$ 332.55 million and its exports US$ 96.17 million. At the 12th Toy Biz exhibition in 2019, 90 of 116 stalls showed only imported toys. On 2 December 2019 the DGFT mandated sample testing of each import consignment, and in February 2020 basic customs duty on toys (HS 9503) was raised from 20% to 60%. The Toys (Quality Control) Order was issued on 25 February 2020, and in his Mann Ki Baat address of 30 August 2020 the Prime Minister called for India to become a toy hub.
Toys Industry
Toys Industry
In 2014-15 India imported US$ 332.55 million of toys and exported US$ 96.17 million. From December 2019 the Government required sample testing of every import consignment, raised basic customs duty on toys from 20% to 60% in February 2020 and to 70% in March 2023, and made BIS certification compulsory from 1 January 2021. By 2022-23 imports had fallen 52% to US$ 158.7 million and exports had risen 239% to US$ 325.72 million. In 2025-26 exports reached US$ 384.7 million and India had a toy trade surplus of US$ 152 million, against a deficit of US$ 213.01 million in 2017-18. The counter shows toy exports per financial year.
−52%
Fall in toy imports, 2014-15 to 2022-23 (US$ 332.55 mn → US$ 158.7 mn)
US$ 152 mn
Toy trade surplus in 2025-26, against a US$ 213.01 mn deficit in 2017-18
1,786
BIS toy-safety licences to domestic manufacturers, plus 56 to foreign ones (May 2026)
Toy exports per financial year (US$ million, HSN 9503–9505)
| Year | Toy exports |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 96.17 US$ mn |
| 2018 | 152.70 US$ mn |
| 2022 | 326.63 US$ mn |
| 2023 | 325.72 US$ mn |
| 2026 | 384.70 US$ mn |
| Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured. | |
2015
0.00US$ mn
Toy exports
20152026
Since 2015
Added
+288.53 US$ mn
2015
96.17 US$ mn
2026
384.70 US$ mn
Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured.
Why it matters Toys are made by more than 21,000 MSMEs and in about 50 toy clusters, many of them traditional artisan clusters, so domestic production supports small firms and craft livelihoods. Safety rules decide what children play with: DPIIT reports that 95% of samples tested in a 2025 BIS survey met quality standards, against 33% in 2019 before the Quality Control Order. Employment in the manufacture of games and toys (NIC 324) rose from 8,685 in 2018-19 to 17,693 in 2023-24.
- Toy imports: US$ 332.55 million (2014-15) → US$ 158.7 million (2022-23), down 52% (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Rajya Sabha reply, Feb 2024)
- Toy exports: US$ 96.17 million (2014-15) → US$ 325.72 million (2022-23), up 239%
- Toys (Quality Control) Order issued on 25 February 2020; BIS certification compulsory from 1 January 2021 for domestic and foreign manufacturers
- Basic customs duty on toys (HS 9503): 20% → 60% (February 2020) → 70% (March 2023)
- BIS toy-safety licences: 1,786 to domestic and 56 to foreign manufacturers (May 2026)
- GST on toys and sports goods cut from 12% to 5%, effective 22 September 2025
History
Notable milestone
The Prime Minister inaugurated the first India Toy Fair by video conference on 27 February 2021, noting that 85% of toys in the country were sourced from abroad; the virtual fair was extended to 4 March and had 1,074 exhibitors. By 2022-23 toy imports had fallen 52% to US$ 158.7 million and exports had risen 239% to US$ 325.72 million, as also recorded in a DPIIT-commissioned case study by IIM Lucknow. In 2025-26 exports reached US$ 384.7 million, and India had a toy trade surplus of US$ 152 million.
How it works
The National Action Plan for Toys (2020) has 21 action points across four themes and is implemented by 14 Central Ministries/Departments, with DPIIT as the coordinating body. Under the Quality Control Order, every toy must conform to the relevant Indian Standard and carry the BIS Standard Mark, whether made in India or abroad; artisans registered with the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and registered users of GI-tagged products are exempt. Since 17 December 2020, BIS has licensed micro units without requiring in-house testing facilities, a relaxation later extended to three years. The MSME Ministry's SFURTI scheme approved 19 toy clusters with Government assistance of ₹55.65 crore, and the Ministry of Textiles supports 13 clusters.
Outlook
The Union Budget 2025-26, presented on 1 February 2025, announced a scheme building on the National Action Plan to make India a global hub for toys through clusters, skills and a manufacturing ecosystem. By 1 February 2026, inter-ministerial consultations on its EFC memo were complete and the memo had been submitted to the Department of Expenditure for an EFC meeting. India's share of global toy exports was 0.3% in 2025, and on 4 July 2026 the Commerce and Industry Minister said India aims to capture a 5% share of the global toy market by 2032. Trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA, Oman, New Zealand and the UK give Indian toys zero-duty access to those markets.
By the numbers
US$ 384.7 million toy exports (2025-26), from US$ 96.17 million (2014-15). Imports US$ 332.55 million (2014-15) → US$ 158.7 million (2022-23), −52%. Trade surplus US$ 152 million (2025-26), from a deficit of US$ 213.01 million (2017-18). Basic customs duty on toys 20% → 60% → 70% (2020, 2023). 1,786 domestic and 56 foreign BIS toy licences (May 2026). Employment in games and toys (NIC 324) 8,685 → 17,693 (2018-19 to 2023-24). Sources: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, DPIIT and Ministry of MSME via PIB (PRIDs 1839393, 1845398, 1885657, 1993109, 2002099, 2282116); PMO via PIB (PRID 1701303); DPIIT Toy Sector Playbook (July 2026); Budget Speech 2025-26 and Implementation of Budget Announcements 2025-26.
Data current to: FY 2025-26 (PIB backgrounder, 7 July 2026)
Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry and DPIIT via PIB — exports of toys (HSN codes 9503, 9504 and 9505) in US$ million for the financial years 2014-15, 2017-18, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2025-26, as stated in Parliament replies and a PIB backgrounder (FY labelled by the year it ends; years not stated officially are left out). Headline: PIB backgrounder, 7 July 2026 — toy exports rose to US$ 384.7 million in 2025-26, with a trade surplus of US$ 152 million (linked). · link