Two rules cause most of the trouble at Indian airports. First: power banks and spare lithium batteries must travel in your cabin bag — never in checked baggage. Second: any liquid, gel or aerosol in your cabin bag must be in a container of 100 ml or less. Sharp objects and most tools go in checked baggage, and dangerous goods like fireworks and flammables are banned from the aircraft entirely.
Updated June 2026 · HappyFares
Knowing what you can carry — and where it has to go — saves the awkward moment at the security tray when something gets pulled out and binned. India’s rules are set by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the DGCA, and enforced by CISF at the airport.
This is a plain-English reference, grouped by the only thing that matters in practice: must-go-in-cabin, banned-in-cabin, and banned-from-the-aircraft-altogether. Limits can vary slightly by airline, so treat this as your starting checklist and confirm anything unusual with your airline before you fly.
Which Items Must Go in the Cabin, Never in Checked Baggage?
This is the rule that catches the most people, and it is a genuine safety rule, not red tape. A short-circuiting lithium battery can catch fire, and a fire in the cabin can be tackled by the crew — a fire in the hold cannot. So these items travel with you, where they can be watched.
Power banks and spare lithium batteries
Power banks and loose or spare lithium batteries must be carried in your cabin baggage only. They are never allowed in checked-in luggage on Indian flights. Keep the terminals protected so they cannot short against keys or coins.
Capacity decides whether you even can carry one:
- Up to 100 Wh (roughly 27,000 mAh): carried free, no approval needed. This covers almost every phone power bank.
- 100–160 Wh: allowed only with the airline’s approval, and usually limited in number.
- Over 160 Wh: banned from passenger aircraft.
For the full breakdown including mAh-to-Wh conversion and per-airline limits, see our detailed power bank rules for Indian flights.
E-cigarettes and vapes
E-cigarettes and vaping devices must be carried in the cabin, with the same battery-safety logic — never in the hold. There is one big catch: using them on board is banned, and switching one on in an Indian aircraft can land you in serious trouble. Carry it switched off and packed away. We cover this in full in our note on the e-cigarette and vape rules.
Other battery-powered devices
Laptops, cameras, tablets and phones are fine in either bag, but it is smarter to keep them in the cabin — both for the lithium-battery reason and to protect fragile, valuable electronics from rough handling. Spare camera and laptop batteries follow the same cabin-only rule as power banks.
Banned in the Cabin — But Fine in Checked Baggage
These items are not dangerous in the hold; they are just things you should not have within arm’s reach in the cabin. Pack them in your checked bag and they travel without a problem.
Liquids, gels and aerosols over 100 ml
In your cabin bag, every liquid, gel, cream, paste or aerosol must be in a container of 100 ml or less — the size of the container counts, not how much is left inside. This covers water, drinks, perfume, toiletries, sunscreen and similar. Anything larger goes in checked baggage.
Two important exceptions are allowed in the cabin in reasonable quantities, usually with a declaration at security: essential medicines and baby food or formula when you are travelling with an infant. If you carry prescription liquids, keep them labelled and bring the prescription — our guide to carrying medicines in cabin baggage walks through exactly how.
Sharp objects
Knives, scissors above the permitted size, blades and box cutters are not allowed in the cabin — they go in checked baggage. Everyday disposable razors are fine to carry in the cabin; it is the loose blades and bladed tools that are the issue.
Sporting goods and tools
Anything that could be swung as a club is a cabin no-go but fine when checked in: cricket bats, hockey sticks, billiard cues and the like. Most tools — spanners, drills, and anything heavy or sharp-edged — also belong in checked baggage. For the wider picture on what fits where, see our full cabin baggage rules guide.
Banned from the Aircraft Entirely
Some things are not allowed on board in any bag — not the cabin, not the hold. These are classified as dangerous goods, and the ban exists because they can cause a fire, explosion or poisoning at altitude. Do not attempt to fly with any of them.
The entirely-banned list includes:
- Explosives and fireworks — crackers, sparklers, flares, detonators, party poppers with a charge.
- Flammable liquids and gases — petrol, lighter fuel, paint thinner, camping-gas cylinders.
- Corrosives — strong acids, wet/spillable batteries, drain cleaners.
- Oxidisers and bleaches in bulk.
- Toxic and infectious substances — poisons, certain chemicals, biological material.
- Compressed-gas cylinders. Small medical oxygen is the rare exception, and only with prior airline approval.
Firearms and ammunition sit in a special category: they are not for the cabin, but a licensed firearm may travel in checked baggage with a valid licence and an advance declaration to the airline, packed to the airline’s exact requirements. Never carry a weapon or ammunition without arranging this in advance.
Quick-Reference Table
Use this as a fast check before you pack. When a limit is unusual or you are unsure, confirm with your airline or against current BCAS rules — these can be tightened at short notice.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank / spare lithium battery | Yes | No | Up to 100 Wh free; 100–160 Wh needs approval; over 160 Wh banned |
| E-cigarette / vape | Yes | No | Carry only; using on board is banned |
| Laptop / camera / phone | Yes | Allowed | Cabin recommended; spare batteries cabin-only |
| Liquids over 100 ml | No | Yes | Medicines & baby food exempt with declaration |
| Knives, scissors, blades | No | Yes | Disposable razors are fine in cabin |
| Sports gear (bats, cues, sticks) | No | Yes | Check size/weight with airline |
| Fireworks, flammables, corrosives | No | No | Banned from the aircraft entirely |
| Firearms / ammunition | No | Licence only | Valid licence + advance declaration required |
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Search Flights on HappyFares →Common Questions
Can I carry a power bank in checked baggage in India?
No. Power banks and spare lithium batteries must always go in your cabin baggage, never in checked-in luggage. This is a fire-safety rule applied across Indian airlines. Up to 100 Wh is carried free; 100–160 Wh needs airline approval; over 160 Wh is not allowed at all.
How much liquid can I carry in my cabin bag?
Each liquid, gel or aerosol in your cabin bag must be in a container of 100 ml or less, carried together in a clear bag at security. Larger quantities go in checked baggage. Essential medicines and baby food are exempt and allowed in the cabin with a declaration.
Are disposable razors and nail cutters allowed in the cabin?
Disposable razors and small nail cutters are generally allowed in the cabin. Loose razor blades, open-bladed knives and scissors above the permitted size are not — pack those in checked baggage. If in doubt about a specific item, check with your airline before you travel.
Can I take fireworks or sparklers home for a festival by flight?
No. Fireworks, crackers and sparklers are explosives and are banned from the aircraft entirely — neither cabin nor checked baggage. The same applies to flammable liquids and gas cylinders. Carry festival gifts that are not dangerous goods, and buy crackers locally instead.
Do these rules apply to web check-in or charge any fee?
These are security rules, not fees — and to be clear, no Indian airline charges you for web or airport check-in. The prohibited-item rules are about safety and apply on every flight regardless of how you check in. Always confirm current limits with your airline or BCAS before flying.
Disclaimer: Airline fees, rules, and security regulations change and vary by airline and route — always confirm current rules with the airline or BCAS/DGCA, and live fares on HappyFares, before booking.
