Toys were invented in India about 8,000 years ago during the Indus Valley Civilization. Original toys included whistle-shaped parrots, rope or cane, and long-hand toy monkeys to slide down small farm carts.
Those toys were made from natural materials like bamboo sticks, grass and natural clay-like clay, rocks and fibrous fabric. Today, however, the advent of advanced technology and mechanisms has led companies to create new and inventive toys.
Soon, due to the new revolution of ‘local to vocal’, Indian Toy is expected to become a global hub by 2025-2030.
Indian Toy Industry
India’s toy industry is worth about ₹93 billion, only 1.5 per cent of the world’s toy industry. Every child has grown up with toys, and how many of our memories are associated with toys. There are 3 million children in India involved in toys, and children are more interested in playing with toys than eating.
The children of the rich play with Barbie dolls while the children of the poor play with dolls. Regarding the toy market, there is a complaint that new toys are not made keeping in view the age and sense of children.
Toys play an important role in the development of children. There has been confusion in the toy market due to some restrictions imposed on it since last January.
Problem and New Government Rules
However, the Indian toy market was snatched by China, and the Indian toy market was shattered by selling cheap toys in the Indian market compared to the toys made in India. India’s toy industry has not been able to match the prices of cheap Chinese toys.
There is another problem with this industry. The government has declared that toys that do not have the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark cannot be sold.
Product testing has been made mandatory on toys made in India. It is said that 80 per cent of India’s toys were imported. Imports of toys fell due to flights being cancelled during the Corona, and this benefited Indian producers.
New investment is also coming in this sector. Toymakers in India started exporting their products. But due to the new rules, the development of the toy industry has been hampered again.
A section of the toy industry says the government’s testing measures will boost the toy industry. Testing of dyes and materials is welcomed as they are harmful to children. Substandard colours and materials used to make toys are harmful to children, and mandatory testing is welcome. The Chennai-based Fun School, supported by MRF Tires, also welcomed the government’s move.
Many new start-ups have also emerged in the Indian toy sector. Today’s toys will be linked to automatic and artificial intelligence. This year, while talking about a self-reliant India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the toy industry and said that the toy industry in the world is worth 100 billion.
Benefits to Indian Toy Industry
Today India’s contribution in Toy Industry is only $1.5 Billion. India’s domestic industry has benefited from the government’s move to increase import duty on imported toys from 20% to 60%. Toys from China also declined due to heavy import duties.
The benefits of the measures taken for the local industries were also seen. On the other hand, toys with non-standard materials are being cancelled during inspection of imported goods.
Kids Behaviour with Toys
The government wants toys to be made with the health of our children in mind. No one goes abroad to buy toys, but the quality of materials used can be checked, and it is important to check the colour and soft material used in them.
Most small children chew the toy in their mouth, causing the colour of the toy to go into the stomach, and this can cause damage. Today, the new generation of parents buys toys by looking at the brand. It can be said that they are concerned about the children’s health, but no one pays much attention to it at the town level or village shopping.
India’s toy industry has seen a 46 per cent decline in imports. It includes not only toys but also the materials used to make them. The toy market is also one of the fastest-growing markets in India.
From the beginning of 2022, the toy market is expected to attract foreign investment of ₹150-200 crores. It is not possible to check all the toys so they can be implemented in stages. Under the standard, prices will vary for both trial and non-trial.
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