Category 1 — Liquids, gels, aerosols
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Water / soft drinks | Max 100 ml in zip-lock | No limit |
| Shampoo, lotion, sunscreen | Max 100 ml in zip-lock | No limit |
| Aerosol deodorant / hair spray | Max 100 ml in zip-lock | Max 500 ml/container, 2 L total |
| Perfume / cologne | Max 100 ml in zip-lock; or duty-free STEB | No limit |
| Alcohol > 70% ABV | Banned | Banned |
| Alcohol 24-70% ABV | Duty-free STEB only | Max 5 L per passenger |
| Coconut/mustard oil | Max 100 ml in zip-lock | Max 5 litres per passenger; leak-proof (BCAS cap on ghee/cooking oil) |
| Baby food / formula / breast milk | ✓ Exempt | No limit |
| Prescription medicines | ✓ Exempt — carry prescription | No limit |
Category 2 — Sharp objects and tools
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Knife / pocket knife (any size) | ✗ Banned — BCAS allows no knife in cabin | ✓ Allowed |
| Kitchen knives | Banned | ✓ Allowed |
| Scissors (any size) | ✗ Banned in cabin | ✓ Allowed |
| Tools — screwdriver, hammer, wrench, pliers (any size) | ✗ Banned (only eyeglass-repair kits exempt) | ✓ Allowed |
| Knitting/crochet/sewing needles | ✗ Banned in cabin (BCAS list, by name) | ✓ Allowed |
| Nail clippers, tweezers | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
| Razor blade (loose) | Banned | ✓ Allowed |
| Safety/disposable/electric razor | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
Category 3 — Lithium and electronics
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Power bank ≤100 Wh | ✓ Cabin only (max 2) | ✗ Banned |
| Power bank 100-160 Wh | Cabin with airline approval | ✗ Banned |
| Power bank >160 Wh | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Laptop / tablet / phone | ✓ Allowed | Allowed off — battery removed on flights from India (battery goes to cabin) |
| Spare lithium batteries | ✓ Cabin only | ✗ Banned |
| E-cigarette / vape | ✗ BANNED IN INDIA | ✗ BANNED IN INDIA |
| Hoverboard / e-scooter | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Drone | ✗ Not in cabin (BCAS); batteries cabin-only | Checked with airline approval, batteries removed — policies vary by airline |
Category 4 — Flammables and weapons
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Butane lighter / matches | ✗ Banned — India does NOT apply the international one-on-person allowance (BCAS bans both) | ✗ Banned |
| Torch / arc lighter / Zippo with fuel | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Petrol / kerosene / lighter fluid | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Fireworks / sparklers | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Gas cylinder (LPG, butane) | ✗ Banned | ✗ Banned |
| Pepper spray / mace | ✗ Banned (the 118 ml allowance is a US TSA rule — and even there, checked-only) | ✗ Banned in India |
| Firearms | ✗ Banned | With arms licence + approval |
| Replica / toy guns | ✗ Banned | ✓ Allowed |
Category 5 — Indian-specific items
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Sindoor (vermilion) | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
| Turmeric, spices (powder) | ✗ Banned in cabin (BCAS bans powder spices incl. chilli) | ✓ Allowed |
| Agarbatti (incense) | ✓ Allowed (unburnt) | ✓ Allowed |
| Coconut (whole, fresh) | ✗ Banned in cabin (BCAS) | ✓ Allowed. Dried coconut/copra: banned in BOTH (fire risk) |
| Coconut oil ≤100 ml | In LAG bag | No limit |
| Mehendi cone | LAG rule applies | ✓ Allowed |
| Idol / murti (small) | Usually allowed; some airlines require checked | ✓ Allowed |
| Conch shell (shankh) | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
| Kirpan (Sikh ceremonial) | ✓ Permitted on person for Sikh passengers on DOMESTIC flights only — blade ≤15.24 cm, total ≤22.86 cm (BCAS). Not on international flights | ✓ Allowed |
Category 6 — Food
| Item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Khakhra, thepla, dry farsan | ✓ Allowed (sealed) | ✓ Allowed |
| Sandwiches, parathas, rotis | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
| Wet curries, gravy, dal | Max 100 ml in LAG bag | If leak-proof |
| Pickles, achaar | Max 100 ml in LAG bag | ✓ Allowed |
| Sweets / mithai (boxed) | ✓ Allowed | ✓ Allowed |
| Fresh fruits, whole vegetables | ✓ Allowed domestic; intl declare | Intl biosecurity |
Completely banned in India (cabin AND checked)
- E-cigarettes / vapes / e-hookahs (PECA Act 2019) — confiscation + penalties, enforced for transit passengers too
- Fireworks of any kind
- Explosives and detonators
- Radioactive materials
- Toxic and infectious substances
- Hoverboards / lithium-powered scooters
- Indian rupees > ₹25,000 across the border (residents only — NRIs/foreign nationals may not carry INR notes at all)
- Foreign currency > USD 5,000 cash or > USD 10,000 total incl. traveller's cheques (CDF declaration required)
- Gold > 1 kg per passenger (Customs declaration)
- Foreign-made drones as imports: prohibited since Feb 2022 (DGFT) — personal drones bought abroad are typically detained/sealed at customs on arrival; components exempt
If you accidentally pack a banned item
- Declare proactively at security — most cabin-banned items can be moved to checked
- If discovered: cooperate. Some items confiscated; others can be checked-in
- Inadvertent customs items: surrender. No fine for accidental.
- Deliberate violations (e-cig, firearm without permit): you can face arrest. Be honest.
Frequently asked questions
What items are not allowed in flight cabin baggage in India?
BCAS (AVSEC Order 02/2022) prohibits these in cabin: liquids over 100 ml (except baby food/medicine/duty-free STEB), knives and scissors of ANY size, tools (screwdriver, hammer, wrench — any size), knitting needles, lighters and matches, pepper spray, firearms/replicas, flammable liquids/gels, gas cylinders, fireworks, and e-cigarettes (banned entirely in India). Most move to checked baggage with caveats. India is stricter than US TSA — small-blade and one-lighter allowances do NOT apply here.
Can I carry a lighter in flight India cabin or checked?
No. BCAS bans lighters and matches in BOTH cabin and checked baggage in India — the international "one lighter on person" allowance (ICAO/IATA) is NOT applied by India. Lighters are routinely confiscated at CISF checkpoints. Torch lighters, refillable Zippos with fuel, and arc lighters are likewise banned in both.
Can I carry deodorant in flight India?
Yes — aerosol deodorant ≤100 ml is allowed in cabin (LAG rule). In checked, aerosol up to 500 ml per container and 2 litres total per passenger. Roll-on and stick deodorants have no 100 ml limit.
Are scissors allowed in cabin baggage India?
No — BCAS prohibits scissors of any size in cabin baggage on Indian flights (there is no 6 cm blade allowance; that is a foreign rule). Pack all scissors, including manicure scissors, in checked baggage. Nail clippers and files ARE allowed in cabin.
Can I carry knitting needles in flight India?
Not in cabin — knitting and crochet needles are on the BCAS prohibited list by name for cabin baggage in India (unlike the US, where TSA allows them). Pack them in checked baggage.
Are nail clippers allowed in cabin baggage India?
Yes — nail clippers, files, tweezers, and small grooming kits are permitted in cabin. Aerosol nail polish remover is NOT allowed in cabin.
Can I carry sindoor / coconut / agarbatti in flight India?
Sindoor, unburnt agarbatti and small puja items are generally fine in both. Whole fresh coconut: CHECKED baggage only (BCAS bans it in cabin). Dried coconut / copra: banned in both cabin AND checked (fire risk). Powder spices incl. turmeric and chilli: checked only. Coconut oil follows the 100 ml LAG rule in cabin, max 5 litres in checked.
Are e-cigarettes / vapes allowed on Indian flights?
E-cigarettes and vapes are BANNED entirely in India under the PECA Act 2019. They cannot be carried in cabin or checked baggage or used at any Indian airport — expect confiscation and penalties, including for transit passengers.
Sources
- BCAS AVSEC Order No. 02/2022 — Handling of Restricted Articles (the official prohibited-items list)
- Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2003 + DGCA CAR Section 3 Series L
- IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
- Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019
- RBI Master Circular on Cash Carriage
- CBIC Customs Duty Rules
Related: Power bank rules · Liquid 100 ml rule · BCAS one-bag rule · Valid ID for domestic flight