Liquids and power banks in hand luggage: the rules for flights to and from India
Liquids, aerosols and gels in hand luggage must be in containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one clear resealable bag of up to 1 litre. Duty-free liquids bought after security are the exception: they come in a sealed security bag that stays closed, with your receipt, until your final destination. Power banks follow a different set of rules:
- They go in the cabin, never in checked luggage.
- The usual cap is 100 Wh (IndiGo allows up to 160 Wh per device).
- They can't be used or charged in flight on Indian airlines.
Airlines can set stricter limits, so check yours before you fly.
This guide is our interpretation of published airline and airport rules, for general information. It isn't official guidance, and Smuggl isn't liable for loss from relying on it. Your airline and the security staff decide what you can carry on the day.
Two things cause most of the trouble at security on India flights: a bottle of perfume and a power bank. The rules are short, but they change with where you bought the item, when you bought it and which airline you fly.
What is the 100 ml rule?
Liquids, aerosols and gels, known as LAGs, include water, creams, lotions, cosmetics, oils, perfumes, deodorants and other sprays, shaving foam, toothpaste and lip gloss. In hand luggage, each container can hold 100 ml or less, and all of them must fit in one transparent, resealable bag of up to 1 litre. You show that bag separately at screening, and each passenger gets one.
The limit applies to the container, not to what's left inside. Air India says a bottle larger than 100 ml isn't accepted even when it's partly filled.
How do duty-free liquids work?
The 100 ml rule covers what you carry through security. Things you buy after security, in the airport's duty-free shops, are handled differently. Most of those purchases are handed over in a security tamper-evident bag, known as a STEB.
- Buy after the security check. Air India doesn't let liquids bought at airport shops or on board through screening unless they're in a STEB.
- Keep the bag sealed until you reach your final destination.
- Keep your proof of purchase with you. You may be asked to show it at a transfer point.
An Indian airport's guidance says these are requirements set by India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and that airlines may add measures of their own.
What if you connect to a domestic flight in India?
This is where travellers get caught. Air India's guidance for passengers flying to India and connecting on one of its domestic flights is to put liquids, aerosols and gels bought at international airports into checked baggage before security screening at the Indian airport, if they exceed the limit. Other airlines may handle it differently, so ask yours when you book.
Air India also lists exceptions for domestic passengers: medicines, special diets and baby food, subject to proof and to the amount needed for the journey.
Which power banks can you take?
Power banks and spare lithium batteries travel in the cabin only. Air India and Akasa Air both say they can't go in checked baggage, and Akasa traces the rule to DGCA guidance. Protect the terminals by taping them or keeping each battery in its own bag or case.
| Airline | Capacity | Number | Overhead bins | Use in flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air India | 100 Wh or less | Up to two spare batteries per person | Not allowed | Not permitted |
| IndiGo | Up to 160 Wh per device | Up to two devices per passenger | Keep within reach | Not used or recharged |
| Akasa Air | Typically up to 100 Wh, as set by the airline | Not stated | Not allowed | Not switched on or charged |
DGCA has also prohibited one specific model, the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04, on any flight to, from or within India, in cabin and checked baggage. Air India states this on its restricted-items page.
How do you work out a power bank's watt-hours?
Most power banks print the Wh rating on the label. If yours shows only mAh, multiply by the voltage and divide by 1,000. Lithium-ion cells usually run at 3.7 V.
| Printed capacity | Roughly in Wh at 3.7 V |
|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh |
| 27,000 mAh | About 100 Wh |
That's why Akasa Air describes the usual 100 Wh cap as roughly 27,000 mAh.
One bag, and the weight limit
Indian security rules allow one piece of hand baggage per passenger (BCAS's "One Hand Baggage Rule", Circular 6/2000, as Air India cites it). On Air India and IndiGo the economy limit is 7 kg, within the airline's size limits, and Air India adds one small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag. Your airline's page and your booking confirmation are the ones that count.
Hand luggage or checked luggage?
| Item | Hand luggage | Checked luggage |
|---|---|---|
| Perfume over 100 ml, bought before security | No | Yes |
| Duty-free perfume bought after security | Yes, in the sealed bag with the receipt | Yes (and required if you connect on some domestic flights) |
| Perfume or lotion of 100 ml or less | Yes, in the 1 litre bag | Yes |
| Hairspray or deodorant | Within the 100 ml rule | Yes, in limited quantities with a cap on the valve |
| Power bank or spare lithium battery | Yes, and only there | No |
Where this meets customs
Liquids you buy duty-free abroad still count towards your allowance when you land in India: ₹75,000 for most travellers, with duty of about 38.5% on the excess. The duty-free calculator shows where your basket lands, and our guide to how customs duty works in India explains the rate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry perfume over 100 ml in hand luggage?
Not through security if you bought it before screening. Containers over 100 ml aren't accepted in hand luggage, even when partly filled, so it goes in checked luggage. Duty-free perfume bought after security is the exception and travels in a sealed security bag.
Can I carry duty-free liquids on a flight to India?
Yes, if you bought them after security and they're in a sealed security tamper-evident bag. Keep the bag closed until your final destination and keep the receipt. If you connect to a domestic flight in India, ask your airline, because Air India asks for over-limit liquids to go in checked baggage.
What is a STEB?
A security tamper-evident bag. Airport duty-free shops seal most after-security purchases in one so the contents can pass later security checks. India's aviation security regulator, BCAS, requires it to stay sealed until the final destination.
Can I put a power bank in checked luggage?
No. Air India and Akasa Air both say power banks and spare lithium batteries go in hand baggage only. Indian airlines also don't allow them to be used or charged during the flight.
How many mAh can I carry?
The usual cap is 100 Wh, which is roughly 27,000 mAh for a typical 3.7 V power bank. IndiGo allows up to 160 Wh per device with a maximum of two devices. Check your airline, because capacity limits are set by the airline.
Can I use a power bank on the plane?
Not on Indian airlines. IndiGo says power banks must not be used, charged or recharged during the flight, and Akasa Air says the same, citing DGCA guidance. You can still carry one in the cabin.
How many bags can I take in the cabin?
One piece of hand baggage, because of BCAS's one hand baggage rule, plus a small personal item on some airlines. Economy limits on Air India and IndiGo are 7 kg.
Do the same rules apply on flights leaving other countries?
Airports abroad set their own security rules, and many use the same 100 ml limit, but details differ. Check the departure airport and your airline before you fly.
Sources
Checked on November 14, 2026. Rules, limits and fees change.
- Air India: Unsafe and restricted items (liquids, aerosols and gels, power banks, the MOBIKINS model)
- Air India: Cabin baggage (one hand baggage rule, weight limits)
- IndiGo: Cabin baggage (power bank limits)
- Akasa Air: What are the new rules about power banks on flights? (DGCA guidance on power banks)
- Kannur International Airport: Security (100 ml rule, duty-free security bags, BCAS requirements)
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