Heading · Chapter 86 · Section XVII, Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment
HS 8601Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity or by electric accumulators
Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof, railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof, mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kind
- Customs duty
- 10%
- 2 tariff items
- GST now
- 18%
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- units
- Duty in China
- 2% to 3%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this heading
2 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8601 10 00 | Powered from an external source of electricity | 10% | 18% | units |
| 8601 20 00 | Powered by electric accumulators | 10% | 18% | units |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 2 tariff items: 10%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 2 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 18%.
- Until 21 September 2025 18%.
- Change: Unchanged.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 522 | Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity or by electric accumulators. | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8601 | Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity or by electric accumulators | 1.7% | — |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 2 tariff items
China: the same goods (8601)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 5 in force under 8601. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8601.10.11.00 | Microcomputer-controlled external DC electric railway locomotives微机控制的外部直流电动铁道机车 | 2%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 3% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 8601.10.19.00 | Other rail locomotives, powered by external direct current由外部直流电驱动的其他铁道机车 | 2%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 3% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 8601.10.20.00 | Railway locomotives, powered from an external source of electricity由外部交流电驱动的铁道机车 | 2%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 3% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 8601.10.90.00 | Railway locomotives powered by other external electricity由其他外部电力驱动的铁道机车 | 2%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 3% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 8601.20.00.00 | Railway electric locomotives, powered by accumulators由蓄电池驱动的铁道电力机车 | 3%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 3% | 13% | 13% | None |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.