Video cameras have become deeply embedded in the fabric of modern life, spanning residential environments, commercial complexes, public infrastructure, transportation networks, high-security facilities and critical infrastructure. Newer form factors – such as body-worn cameras, vehicle dash-cams, drone-mounted cameras, and imaging systems on autonomous machines – are expanding both the scale and diversity of video capture. Against this backdrop of pervasive adoption, this paper examines several significant developments in emerging global standards as well as government and industry driven initiatives. Before delving into these transformative frameworks, it is useful to anchor the discussion in the underlying market trajectory.
According to Frost & Sullivan’s report “Video Surveillance and Security Market in India,” cited within Aditya Infotech Ltd.’s IPO RHP, the global video-surveillance market is projected to grow from USD 35.9 billion in FY 2025 to USD 58.8 billion by FY 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 10.36%. In volume terms, shipments of surveillance equipment—including cameras—are expected to rise from 1,112.9 million units to 1,600.1 million units over the same period. The volume of cameras sold in India is estimated to reach 30 million units by 2030.
Assuming that cameras constitute roughly 90% of all surveillance equipment, this translates to an extraordinary scale – by 2030, global camera sales could approach four million every single day, while India alone may see 2.5 million cameras shipped each month. In my assessment, these projections, remarkable as they are, may in fact prove conservative. The accelerating proliferation of imaging systems underscores not only the importance of robust camera-related standards and guidelines but also the urgency of increasing awareness and adoption of these frameworks across all stakeholders in the security ecosystem.
On 9 October 2025, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) released one of the most important standards released for the physical security industry. The vastly updated and revised IEC 62676‑4:2025 standard for “Video surveillance systems for use in security applications – Part 4: Application guidelines” provides exhaustive methodologies for the planning, design, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of video-surveillance systems (VSS) used in security applications. In Europe, this has been adopted as EN 62676‑4:2025 and it replaces the previous 2014 version of IEC 62676-4 standard.
Salient Features of Revised IEC Standard
The IEC 62676-4:2025 standard emphasises that a Video Surveillance System (VSS) must be part of a broader Security Concept, including structural, electronic and organisational measures aligned with the required business outcomes. The structure of the security concept should include threat and vulnerability analysis of the asset to be protected. Only a well thought out security plan that clearly articulates the operational requirements for visual surveillance shall lead to a proper system design. The guideline also explains the mechanism for adopting one out of four security grades for the site according to which the VSS can be designed.
Another important aspect is that the updated standard provides classification of various roles of personnel operating the VSS including an “Instructed person”, a “Competent person VSS”, or a “Competent system engineer VSS”. These roles are important to be incorporated into the physical security teams’ operating model. Individuals with these responsibilities must be trained or upskilled to understand how to best utilize these “application guidelines” that are relevant for almost all enterprise, government and even defense end users. Because this is an international standard, security consultants, project managers and end users should study this in detail and reference it for compliance or best-practice, especially if they require high quality forensic-capable footage.
If you are specifying or designing a video surveillance system, this standard gives you modernised reference values for pixel density (pixels per metre or pix/m) depending on what you want the camera to achieve (simple detection vs. high-detail recognition). This helps with clearer performance specifications: e.g., if you want “face recognition at entrance of building”, you’ll pick a zone category (say “Validate” or “Scrutinise”) and then derive field-of-view, camera resolution, lens and mounting height accordingly. It moves the security industry and end users away from somewhat vague terms like “identify” or “recognize” to more quantifiable parameters such as pix/m.
Seven Zones or Image Quality Categories
The pixel-density (“pixels per metre” – ppm) requirements have been completely revised from the decade old previous standard with the same reference. The old DORI model (Detection, Observation, Recognition, Identification) has been supplanted by new terminology and categories.
The new standard introduces seven quality categories that define how many pixels per metre are required depending on the use-case.
| Category | Pixels per Metre (pix/m) Minimum | Example Use-Case |
| Overview | 20 | General monitoring
(e.g., object detection, perimeter monitoring) |
| Outline | 40 | Outline moving objects & direction
(e.g., perimeter tracking) |
| Discern | 80 | Discern individuals / objects
(e.g., people or objects at moderate distance) |
| Perceive | 125 | Recognise general attributes
(e.g., clothing, movement) |
| Characterise | 250 | Characterise details
(e.g., vehicle make / model, person’s face) |
| Validate | 500 | Validation level
(e.g., read license-plate, recognize faces) |
| Scrutinise | 1500 | Highest detail / forensic level
(e.g., close facial identification, clear evidence) |
What is summarized above are just a few aspects of the highly elaborate document. It is strongly recommended that the reader may procure the full publication, understand it in detail and then apply suitably as per their or their clients’ requirements.
Industry Initiative from China
It is reported that mainland China had over 700 million cameras installed. Nine out of the top 10 most surveilled cities globally are in China. Given this background, it was important to note another noteworthy development relating to video-camera image quality that emerged from China in October 2025. At the Security Industry Summit, retailer JD.com, together with major camera manufacturers and backed by the China Video Industry Association (CVIA), introduced a new industry initiative titled “True Pixels, No False Claims.”
Unlike IEC 62676-4, this is not a regulatory standard but a voluntary, industry-led self-regulation program designed to improve transparency and curb misleading marketing claims in the Chinese camera industry. The initiative focuses on ensuring the accuracy of specifications such as true resolution, actual pixel count, signal-to-noise ratio, video-analytics capability, and even audio-performance characteristics. It seeks to align the specifications printed in brochures and datasheets with the actual, verifiable performance of the physical device, supported by consistent and standardised testing methodologies.
At its core, the program aims to restore and strengthen consumer trust – addressing concerns about exaggerated claims and inconsistent product quality – while promoting a level playing field among manufacturers. Led by the dominant players in China’s camera manufacturing and retail ecosystem, this initiative represents a meaningful step toward greater transparency in a market where low-quality, inaccurately specified products have increasingly eroded confidence, both domestically and in export markets.
Cyber-Security Concerns
Cybersecurity concerns surrounding fully assembled cameras and their internal components originating from China have escalated across the United States, India, and several other countries over the past two years. In response, India has taken a decisive regulatory step. The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) introduced mandatory requirements for video-surveillance cameras under the “Essential Requirement(s) for Security of CCTV” (ER-01) framework, which came into force on 9 April 2025.
These Essential Requirements, formalised through the Quality Control Order and administered under the IoT System Certification Scheme (IoTSCS), place strong emphasis on cybersecurity-by-design. They mandate secure firmware, encrypted communication channels, authenticated access controls, and protection against tampering or unauthorized modifications. The requirements also extend deeper into the hardware stack – covering the consistency and provenance of the System-on-Chip (SoC), security-sensitive aspects of PCB design, and the robustness of incorporated communication protocols.
ER-01 applies to all camera models certified under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) IS 13252 (Part 1):2010, which aligns with IEC 60950-1:2005 for electrical and IT equipment safety. Following this introduction, India made it mandatory that, effective 9 April 2025, all CCTV camera models, whether manufactured locally, imported, or sold in the country, must obtain STQC certification in addition to BIS registration before they can be legally offered to customers.
This regulatory shift marks one of the most stringent national frameworks globally for cybersecurity assurance in video-surveillance hardware. It significantly raises the bar for manufacturers while providing buyers—especially government and critical-infrastructure operators—with enhanced confidence in the security posture of deployed camera systems.
As we reflect on these insights
The adoption of the updated IEC standard is poised to reshape how video-surveillance systems are designed, specified, and deployed. Higher pixel per metre thresholds will naturally drive greater demand for higher-resolution sensors, superior optics, and more rigorous planning of system design. They also reinforce the need for proper supporting infrastructure – most notably adequate and appropriate lighting, which remains one of the most critical determinants of real-world image quality. At the same time, pixel per metre values alone cannot compensate for poor system engineering. Factors such as shutter speed, exposure control, motion rendering, lens distortion, compression choices, and network bandwidth must be holistically managed to ensure that a system meets its intended operational objectives.
For government agencies, end-users, consultants, and risk-management professionals, these developments underline the need for a deeper appreciation of performance metrics and quality benchmarks. In an era where high-quality imagery is increasingly essential, and where cybersecurity threats continue to escalate, stakeholders must treat these evolving standards and initiatives as minimum baseline requirements, not aspirational best-practice benchmarks.
The current environment also presents a significant opportunity for Indian camera manufacturers, many of whom are expanding domestic production capacity and pursuing global markets. By embracing transparency, rigorous certification, and secure-by-design principles, India’s manufacturers can avoid the pitfalls that eroded trust in some China-origin devices and position themselves as credible, high-quality alternatives.
Policy support will play a crucial role. The Government of India could further accelerate progress by providing incentives to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and streamline IoTSCS / STQC certification processes.
With some major Indian video surveillance companies recently completing successful IPOs, and startups in niche video cameras, analytics, and edge-AI attracting growing venture-capital interest, the foundations are being laid for India to emerge as a trusted, large-scale global player in video-surveillance technology. The convergence of stronger standards, trusted supply chains, and national video hardware, software and AI capability-building may well define the transformation for this crucial security industry sector to attain global leadership.
Rajan Luthra, the author serves as a Panel Convener, Alarms & Electronic Security Systems Sectional Committee (LITD 26) at the Bureau of Indian Standards, and has been a pioneer in the electronic security industry for over three decades. He is the Head of Special Projects in the Chairman’s Office at Reliance Industries Ltd.
