Airport Rules

At every Indian airport, your baggage passes through two layers of screening: the CISF x-ray check at the security hold area (SHA) and the airline's own check-in weight limits. These are separate systems. An item may be permitted by BCAS security rules but still rejected by your airline's dangerous goods policy — or vice versa.

Cabin baggage (also called hand baggage or carry-on) is the bag you take into the aircraft cabin with you. It is subject to the strictest security scrutiny because prohibited items in the cabin pose an immediate risk during flight. Checked baggage is screened separately and has a different — though still strict — set of rules, particularly for lithium batteries and flammable items.

The BCAS issues circulars that define the master list of prohibited items. Airlines may impose tighter restrictions on top of this list. When in doubt, check both your airline's website and the BCAS list before packing.

For most Indian domestic carriers, cabin baggage is limited to 7–8 kg with linear dimensions under 55 cm × 35 cm × 25 cm. International allowances vary by airline and fare class — premium cabins typically permit 10–12 kg. One personal item (laptop bag, handbag, or small backpack) is usually allowed in addition to the main cabin bag.

The most common items confiscated at security are sharp objects (scissors with blades over 6 cm, knives, razors), liquids in containers above 100 ml, power banks over 100 Wh, and items that generate heat or smoke. Lithium-ion power banks must travel in cabin baggage — they cannot go in checked luggage.

The 100 ml liquid rule mirrors international standards. Each container must hold no more than 100 ml, all containers must fit into a single transparent resealable bag of no more than 1 litre capacity, and the bag must be removed from your cabin bag at the security checkpoint for separate screening.

Checked baggage allows most everyday items that are banned from the cabin, including sharp tools, sporting equipment, and many liquids in larger volumes. However, certain items remain banned from checked baggage entirely — lithium batteries not installed in a device (spare batteries), safety lighters with fuel, and most pressurised gas cylinders.

Sports equipment such as bicycles, golf clubs, and cricket bats can typically travel as checked baggage but must be declared at check-in and may attract excess baggage fees. Firearms require prior written permission from the airline and must be unloaded, in a hard-sided locked case, and declared at check-in.

Musical instruments that cannot fit in the overhead bin may be checked or, on some carriers, booked as a separate seat. Contact your airline at least 48 hours in advance for oversized items.

All passengers at Indian airports go through a CISF security check before entering the security hold area. This includes removing shoes at many airports, placing laptops in a separate tray, and walking through a full-body scanner or metal detector arch. Pre-Enrolment for DigiYatra (facial recognition boarding) at participating airports can reduce time at certain checkpoints.

Passengers with medical implants (pacemakers, metal orthopaedic hardware) should carry a doctor's certificate and inform CISF before screening. Medical devices such as insulin pens, nebulisers, and CPAP machines are generally permitted in the cabin with supporting documentation.

Behaviour at security checkpoints is taken seriously under BCAS regulations. Interfering with, obstructing, or threatening security personnel is a criminal offence. Refer to our security screening guide for the complete list of do's and don'ts at the checkpoint.

The BCAS prohibited items list is extensive. Beyond the obvious (weapons, explosives), it includes everyday items that many travellers overlook: toy guns and realistic replica firearms, self-defence sprays, magnetic materials above a certain field strength, and certain electronic devices capable of causing radio interference.

Items that are "restricted" rather than outright "prohibited" may be allowed under specific conditions — for example, medical syringes are allowed if accompanied by a prescription, and dry ice (for transporting perishables) is allowed up to 2.5 kg in checked baggage with airline approval.

If you are unsure about a specific item, contact your airline or the airports's help desk before travel. Arriving at security with a prohibited item typically means forfeiting it on the spot — there is no facility to send it back to your car or post it home.