Heading · Chapter 90 · Section XVIII, Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precisi…
HS 9015Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses; rangefinders
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
- Customs duty
- 7.5%
- 10 tariff items
- GST now
- 18%
- or 5% for some goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg or units
- Duty in China
- 0% to 9%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this heading
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9015 10 00 | Rangefinders | 7.5% | 18% | units |
| 9015 20 00 | Theodolities and tachymeters (tacheometers) | 7.5% | 18% | units |
| 9015 30 | Levels | 7.5% | 18% | units |
| 9015 40 00 | Photogrammetrical surveying instruments and appliances | 7.5% | 18% | units |
| 9015 80 | Other instruments and appliances | 7.5% | 18% | units |
| 9015 90 00 | Parts and accessories | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 10 tariff items: 7.5%. 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: 10 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 18%, or 5% for some goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 18%, or 5% or 12% for some goods.
- Change: Unchanged.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 568 | Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses; rangefinders | 18% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 473 | Coronary stents and coronary stent systems for use with cardiac catheters | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 474 | Artificial kidney | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 475 | Blood glucose monitoring system (Glucometer) and test strips | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 476 | Patent Ductus Arteriosus / Atrial Se ptal Defect occlusion device | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 477 | Parts of the following goods, namely: - (i) Crutches; (ii) Wheel chairs; (iii)Walking frames; (iv)Tricycles; (v)Braillers; and (vi) Artificial limbs | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 478 | Assistive devices, rehabilitation aids and other goods for disabled, specified in List 1 appended to this Schedule | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 479 | Disposable sterilized dialyzer or micro barrier of artificial kidney | 5% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 5%, 12% or 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9015 | Surveying (including photo- grammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meterological or geo- physcial instruments and appliances, excluding com-passes; rangefinders | 1.2% | — |
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: 10 tariff items
China: the same goods (9015)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 9 in force and 3 expired under 9015. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9015.10.10.00 | Lidar激光雷达 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.10.90.00 | Other rangefinders其他测距仪 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.20.00.00 | Theodolites and tacheometers经纬仪及视距仪 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.30.00.00 | Levels水平仪 | 9%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 9% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.40.00.00 | Photogrammetrical instruments and apparatus摄影测量用仪器及装置 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.80.00.30 | Airborne or shipborne gravimeters; airborne or shipborne gravity gradiometers机载或舰载重力仪；机载或舰载重力梯度仪 | 0%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.80.00.90 | Other measuring instruments and apparatus其他测量仪器及装置 | 0%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.90.00.10 | Parts for gravimeters and gravity gradiometers, for aircraft or vessels用于机、舰载重力仪和重力梯度仪的部件 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9015.90.00.90 | Other parts and accessories for instruments and apparatus of heading 90.15其他税目9015所列仪器及装置的零、附件 | 0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 0% | 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.