Indian toy exports surge 89% in 6 years; safety compliance hits 95%: Minister
Synopsis
India has flipped from a net toy importer to a net exporter in under six years — exports at $384.7 million now outstrip imports of $232.3 million. The sharper story is quality: safety compliance has leapt from 33% to 95%, backed by tariff walls, 18 MSME clusters, and a policy framework spanning 14 ministries.
Key Takeaways
India's toy exports rose 89 per cent since 2018-19 , reaching $384.7 million in FY2025-26 .
Toy imports fell 37.5 per cent to $232.3 million , making India a net exporter of toys.
BIS safety compliance jumped from 33 per cent in 2019 to 95 per cent in 2025.
Basic Customs Duty on toys was raised from 20 per cent to 70 per cent between 2020 and 2023 .
18 toy clusters approved under SFURTI; 40 clusters receiving textile ministry design support.
More than 700 toy startups recognised under the Startup India initiative.
India's toy exports have risen by 89 per cent since 2018-19, while domestic safety compliance has jumped from 33 per cent to 95 per cent, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada told Lok Sabha on Tuesday, 28 July 2025. The turnaround positions India as a net exporter of toys for the first time, with shipments now reaching markets across North America and Europe.
Key Export and Import Numbers
In FY2025-26, India's toy exports stood at $384.7 million against imports of $232.3 million — a decisive shift from the earlier import-heavy position. Imports have fallen by 37.5 per cent since 2018-19. Major export destinations now include the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Quality Compliance: A Sharp Reversal
A Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) survey conducted in 2025 found that 95 per cent of toy samples met prescribed safety norms — up from just 33 per cent in 2019. BIS has since issued more than 1,800 licences to domestic toy manufacturers and more than 50 licences to foreign manufacturers for use of the BIS Standard Mark on toys conforming to Indian safety standards.
Government Initiatives Behind the Shift
The government's National Action Plan for Toys — comprising 21 action points coordinated across 14 ministries — anchored the policy push. Key measures included raising Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on toys (HS Code-9503) from 20 per cent to 60 per cent in February 2020, and further to 70 per cent in 2023, effectively curbing the inflow of substandard imports.
The Ministry of MSMEs has approved 18 toy clusters under the Scheme of Funds for the Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), while the Ministry of Textiles is providing design and tooling support to 40 toy clusters. More than 700 startups in the toy space have been recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Startup India initiative.
Education Policy and Industry Events
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 prescribed the use of toys — particularly those rooted in indigenous games — at multiple learning stages to build competencies in young children, adding a demand-side push to domestic manufacturers. The sector also received a visibility boost from the 17th Toy Biz International B2B Exhibition, which drew 400 Indian toy brands, 100 international buyers from 40 countries, and approximately 30,000 business visitors, connecting manufacturers with wholesalers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms.
What's Next
With exports already outpacing imports and safety compliance near-universal, the industry's next challenge is scaling design innovation and brand recognition in global markets. Continued support to toy clusters and the startup ecosystem will be critical to sustaining the momentum beyond tariff-driven gains.
Point of View
But context matters: it comes off a low base and is partly a tariff story — BCD at 70 per cent is a blunt instrument that raises costs for domestic assemblers who rely on imported components. The more durable signal is the quality leap: 33 per cent to 95 per cent BIS compliance in six years is a structural shift, not a statistical blip. The test ahead is whether Indian toy brands can compete on design and IP, not just on price advantage created by import walls. The 17th Toy Biz exhibition drawing buyers from 40 countries suggests appetite exists; converting that into repeat orders and brand equity is the harder task.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
By how much have India's toy exports grown since 2018-19?
India's toy exports have grown by 89 per cent since 2018-19, reaching $384.7 million in FY2025-26. This has made India a net exporter of toys, with exports now exceeding imports of $232.3 million.
What is India's toy safety compliance rate in 2025?
A Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) survey in 2025 found 95 per cent of toy samples conforming to prescribed safety standards, up sharply from 33 per cent in 2019. BIS has issued over 1,800 licences to domestic toy manufacturers to use its Standard Mark.
What government measures drove the growth of India's toy industry?
Key measures include a National Action Plan for Toys with 21 action points across 14 ministries, raising Basic Customs Duty on toys from 20 per cent to 70 per cent, approving 18 MSME toy clusters under SFURTI, and recognising over 700 toy startups under Startup India.
Which countries does India export toys to?
India exports toys to the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany, among other markets. The 17th Toy Biz International B2B Exhibition attracted buyers from 40 countries, signalling broader global interest.
How does the National Education Policy 2020 support the toy industry?
NEP 2020 prescribed the use of toys — especially those based on indigenous games — at multiple stages of early learning to develop competencies in young children. This creates a sustained domestic demand channel for Indian toy manufacturers.
