HFCs were introduced to replace ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs. Familiar examples are R134a, R404A, R407C and R410A. They are generally non-flammable and stable, which made them easy to adopt, and for about three decades they dominated refrigeration and air conditioning.
The problem is global warming potential. Many HFCs trap heat hundreds to thousands of times more than CO2. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which India has ratified, sets a schedule for countries to cut HFC production and consumption over the coming decades, with developing countries following a later timetable than developed ones.
In practice, HFC equipment will remain in service for years and the gases will remain available for servicing, but supply is gradually tightening. Manufacturers are switching new equipment to hydrocarbons, CO2 and HFOs. For a buyer, that means a new HFC cabinet may face higher refrigerant costs later in its life.