Fact verify: Social media customers wrongly declare Modi govt restricted private laptop imports to learn JioBook

With the target of accelerating the manufacturing of digital gadgets within the nation, the union authorities has introduced restrictions on the import of such objects. In a notification dated third August issued by The Directorate General of Foreign Trade beneath the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the govt. restricted the import of laptops, tablets, different private computer systems and servers with rapid impact.

Following this announcement, some social media customers, who appear to imagine in Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that every part that the Modi authorities does is finished to learn some industrialists, began to hawk a conspiracy principle on social media. They tried to hyperlink with the latest launch of JioBook by Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, which was introduced on thirty first July.

One such tweet by ‘financial influencer’ Neha Nagar mentioned, “Aug. 1: Jio launched their laptop “Jiobook” at 16,499 Aug. 3: Govt restricted the import of laptops, tablets, and computer systems. Aap chronology samajhiye”. It is notable that Neha Nagar was recognised as a Cultural Brand Ambassador by the Union Ministry of Culture in August final 12 months.

Aug. 1: Jio launched their laptop computer “Jiobook” at 16,499

Aug. 3: Govt restricted the import of laptops, tablets, and computer systems.

Aap chronology samajhiye 😅

— Neha Nagar (@nehanagarr) August 3, 2023

Similar tweets have been posted by many others, primarily claiming that the import of laptops and different gadgets has been restricted to learn Reliance Industries as it would imply a rise within the sale of made-in-India gadgets.

Event : Reliance Jio launched its Jio-Book 3 days in the past

Action : The Modi authorities restricts imports of laptops of overseas manufacturers.

Hum sidha Ambani ko PM kyu nahi bana sakte? https://t.co/XorZZ2keRL

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) August 3, 2023

Jio launched its new laptop computer.💻

Govt imposes curbs on import of laptops, tablets, computer systems. 💻

Wow, what a coincidence, and what subsequent?#INDIA4Democracy #laptops #jiobook #BRICS #DelhiOrdinanceBill #Sanchez #AdaniEnterprises #AdaniGroup pic.twitter.com/SZQZa2zTfB

— CMA Venkatesh Alla (@alla_cma) August 3, 2023

😂#laptops #Jiobook pic.twitter.com/x3KY16xHO3

— Finance Memes (@Qid_Memez) August 3, 2023

These social media customers assumed that JioBook is made in India, and due to this fact it would profit from the latest determination. One Twitter person claimed that govt of India shouldn’t be even hiding its alleged help for JioBook.

You can’t make this up. India limiting import of laptops, tablets and PCs the identical week as JioBook goes on sale. They aren’t even hiding it, are they?

— Arjun* (@mxtaverse) August 3, 2023

India bans Laptops…. one would surprise why 🤠#LaptopBan pic.twitter.com/hCS6uwjuW4

— Alok Jain ⚡ (@WeekendInvestng) August 3, 2023

In a bid to accuse the Modi authorities of taking the choice to learn Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, these social media customers, a lot of whom are associated to the finance sector, missed an important element. And that’s, JioBook will likely be one of many merchandise affected by the restriction on imports, and due to this fact the Reliance group firm will likely be negatively impacted.

This is as a result of JioBook shouldn’t be made in India, it’s really made in China. The restriction will largely impression China, as most digital gadgets are made in China.

Screenshot from Amazon

The Amazon web page for JioBook reveals that the machine is made by Chinese firm Hunan Greatwall Computer System Co. Ltd at its plant in Zhuzhou in Hunan Province. Other e-commerce websites promoting the machine, together with Reliance Digital, additionally point out the identical information, that it’s made by Hunan Greatwall in China. Gadgetnow lists Reliance Retail because the importer of JioBook.

This implies that determination to limit the import of computer systems may also impression JioBook. Moreover, whereas the govt. order offers exemptions to laptops and different computer systems for particular functions, like R&D, testing, product growth and so on, it’s unlikely that JioBooks will likely be imported by anybody for these functions.

The order issued on third August restricts the import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one private computer systems, and ultra-small issue computer systems and servers.

It is notable that JioBook shouldn’t be a full-fledged laptop, it’s an Android machine, just like the Google Chromebook. The JioBook runs JioOS, an Android fork. It runs on a Mediatek Processor, not Intel or AMD, and has specs a lot decrease than normal laptops. Such Android based mostly computer systems are largely used for web-based functions and content material consumption, and they aren’t replacements for full-fledged computer systems that run Windows, macOS or Linux.

Therefore, after imported computer systems change into unavailable in India, it is not going to end in a rise in gross sales of JioBook, even whether it is made in India. This will profit firms that already make computes in India, together with each Indian firms and MNCs. It is notable that a number of world majors like Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo and so on already manufacture laptops and different computer systems in India, both in their very own factories or by contract producers. The restriction will imply that these firms should improve their Indian manufacturing to cater to the native market, whereas firms with out made-in-India merchandise will likely be impacted.

Reliance should discover an Indian producer for JioBook, and until then they will’t promote the gadgets, maybe other than the inventory already imported. The firm already will get Jio Phones made in India, which was additionally initially made in China. But primarily, whereas most laptop producers make a few of their merchandise in India and their enterprise will proceed, JioBook enterprise will cease till they’re began to be made in India. Setting up a line for JioBook by a producer in India might take a while.

This means JioBook will likely be one of many worst affected merchandise of the govt. determination to limit imports, it isn’t getting any advantages as alleged by many.

Another main firm to be affected will likely be Apple, because it doesn’t make Macbooks and iPads in India, solely iPhones are manufactured in India.