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HS 90 Chapter · Instruments, Clocks & Musical Instruments

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories

Chapter 90 of the Harmonised System covers Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories — 32 four-digit headings spanning optical fibres and optical fibre bundles to instruments and apparatus that customs authorities worldwide use to classify these goods and set duty.

India exports 2024
$4.96B

Source: UN Comtrade — India's reported merchandise exports to the world, 2024.

Sourcing this category from India

Chapter 90 covers optical, photographic, measuring, medical and surgical instruments and apparatus. India exports surgical and medical instruments, notably from Jalandhar, alongside optical, measuring and laboratory equipment. Subheadings organise the goods by function — optical elements, measuring and checking instruments, medical and surgical apparatus — making precise classification important across this diverse, high-value chapter.

How to read this code

90 is the two-digit HS chapter for optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring,. To clear customs your destination country extends it to a full 8–10 digit code and assigns the duty rate. India's preferential trade agreements (UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA, and others) can reduce or zero out that duty on many instruments, clocks & musical instruments lines — check our import guides for your market.

Headings under HS 90

The Harmonised System breaks Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories into these 32 headings. Drill down to the exact classification for your goods.

90.01 6 subheadings

Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables not of heading no. 8544; sheets, plates of polarising material; lenses, prisms, mirrors, of any material; unmounted; not non optical glass

90.02 4 subheadings

Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, other than such elements of glass not optically worked

90.03 3 subheadings

Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, and parts

90.04 2 subheadings

Spectacles, goggles and the like; corrective, protective or other

90.05 3 subheadings

Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, mountings therefore; other astronomical instruments, mountings therefore, but not including instruments for radio-astronomy

90.06 8 subheadings

Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading no. 8539

90.07 4 subheadings

Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatus

90.08 2 subheadings

Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic (other than cinematographic) enlargers and reducers

90.10 4 subheadings

Photographic (including cinematographic) laboratory apparatus and equipment, n.e.c. in chapter 90; negatoscopes; projection screens

90.11 4 subheadings

Microscopes, compound optical; including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojection

90.12 2 subheadings

Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus

90.13 4 subheadings

Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments n.e.c. in this chapter

90.14 4 subheadings

Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compasses

90.15 6 subheadings

Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses, rangefinders

90.16 1 subheadings

Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weights

90.17 5 subheadings

Drawing, marking-out, mathematical calculating instruments (drafting machines, protractors, drawing sets etc); instruments for measuring length (e.g. measuring rods, tapes, micrometers, callipers) n.e.c.

90.18 13 subheadings

Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instruments

90.19 2 subheadings

Mechano-therapy, massage appliances; psychological aptitude testing apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus

90.20 1 subheadings

Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20

90.21 8 subheadings

Orthopaedic appliances; including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other which are worn, carried or implanted in the body to compensate for a defect or disability

90.22 8 subheadings

Apparatus based on the use of x-rays or of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionising radiations, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, x-ray tubes and other x-ray generators, high tens

90.23 1 subheadings

Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other uses

90.24 3 subheadings

Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)

90.25 4 subheadings

Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or not

90.26 4 subheadings

Instruments, apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure of liquids, gases (e.g. flow meters, heat meters etc), not instruments and apparatus of heading no. 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032

90.27 7 subheadings

Instruments and apparatus; for physical or chemical analysis (e.g. polarimeters, spectrometers), for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, etc, for measuring quantities of heat, sound or light

90.28 4 subheadings

Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters therefor

90.29 3 subheadings

Revolution counter, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like, speed indicators and tachometers, other than those of heading no. 9015, stroboscopes

90.30 11 subheadings

Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities not meters of heading no. 9028; instruments, apparatus for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, cosmic and other radiations

90.31 6 subheadings

Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, n.e.c. or included in this chapter; profile projectors

90.32 5 subheadings

Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic type

90.33 1 subheadings

Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90

Top destinations for Chapter 90 exports

India's largest buyers of goods in this HS chapter in 2024, ranked by export value.

#1 USA $875.8M
#2 Germany $308.4M
#3 Singapore $288M
#4 United Arab Emirates $271.3M
#5 United Kingdom $230.1M

Chapter-level destination mix — your specific HS line may skew differently. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024.

Working out import duty for HS 90 into your market? See full duty context and India-vs-rivals comparisons in our India comparison guides and export resource hub.

Indian exporters in this category

Established export houses with relevant HS focus. Listings are compiled from public records — run your own due diligence.

Browse the full exporter directory →
Last updated 28 Jun 2026 Figures are indicative sourcing benchmarks compiled from exporter quotes, India trade-scheme notifications and public customs tariffs. Confirm live pricing and HS classification before contracting.
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