Market Access Support launched to fund BSMs, RBSMs, trade fairs, exhibitions and trade delegations for exporters.
Pilot Market Access Support (MAS) under Export Promotion Mission Niryat Disha provides structured financial and institutional support for BSMs, RBSMs, trade fairs, exhibitions and trade delegations via the Trade Connect ePlatform. Eligible organising agencies and participating firms must meet prescribed eligibility, membership, IEC and non denial criteria; proposals and events must be filed online. Governance is via a Sub Committee and EPM secretariat; financial norms set event ceilings, cost sharing patterns (regular 60%/40%, priority 80%/20%), eligible expenditure categories, 50% advance/50% post event release, documentation, audit and post event reporting requirements, and punitive measures for non compliance.

Handbook Chapter 6 amendments standardise EOU permission templates, require legal agreement updates, NFE compliance and customs/GST adherence.
Appendix notified under Chapter 6 prescribes standardised templates for letters and permissions to Export Oriented Units, covering acceptance of legal agreements, inclusion or broad banding of items, capacity enhancements, consolidation and DTA sale permissions, LOP extensions, location changes, exit procedures, ad hoc norms and exhibition permissions. Templates require execution or revision of the Legal Agreement where Annexures change, timely submission of supporting documents, maintenance of positive NFE/value addition, compliance with Customs/GST and ITC(HS) eligibility, and may mandate bonds or bank guarantees; Development Commissioners may modify formats or add conditions consistent with the FTP and HBP.

Gold import authorisations: SBER Bank added for domestic consumption from 25.06.2025 to 31.03.2026.
Amendment to Part B of Appendix 4B authorises Indian Overseas Bank and Union Bank of India to import only gold for FY 2025-26 (01.04.2025-31.03.2026) and adds SBER Bank with a conditional authorisation permitting imports solely for domestic consumption, effective 25.06.2025 until 31.03.2026, issued under paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.

Import of restricted IT hardware: IMS applications open 22 Dec 2025-15 Dec 2026; authorisations valid to 31 Dec 2026.
Import of IT hardware under HSN 8471 is restricted and requires an Import Management System (IMS) authorisation obtained via the DGFT website. The IMS portal is open from 22 December 2025 to 15 December 2026; authorisations granted under IMS are valid until 31 December 2026. Importers may submit multiple applications and seek amendments to authorisations online. MeitY may undertake a mid term review to update inputs, and DGFT may amend, suspend or withdraw IMS procedures based on policy needs or government directions.

Gold TRQ allocation under India UAE CEPA limited to Micro and Small Enterprises via competitive e auction for FY2025-26.
DGFT will allocate the gold Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) under India UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26 by competitive e auction on the MSTC platform, with an initial 30 MT available and EFC authority to extend by 50%. This round is restricted to Micro and Small Enterprises meeting Annexure IV eligibility; per bidder caps are 10 kg (Micro) and 25 kg (Small). Bidders must register, submit technical documents, a participation fee and INR 100,000 bid security, use a Class III DSC, and file TRQ applications and payment within 15 days of allocation to be declared successful. DGFT reserves broad discretion to amend, cancel or verify bids and to forfeit securities for non payment or fraudulent practices.

Revised SIONs update input-output norms and licensing rules for chemical and allied export products, effective immediately.
Revision implements amended Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) for specified Chemical and Allied Product entries and updates a General Note for all export product groups, effective immediately. The SIONs prescribe input types and quantitative input-output ratios, include rules for mixed consignments and product variants, and require exporters to correlate licence inputs with shipping bill descriptions. Annexure-B sets procedural rules prioritising specific norms over generic norms, election among alternative inputs, accounting bases (net-to-net or net plus wastage), value-limited import caps for certain inputs, and validity and regularisation requirements for time-limited norms.

Metformin input import UOMs amended to Kg for dicyanodiamide and DMF under SION A-290 with immediate effect.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under Paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, amends the Unit of Measurement (UOM) for import items under SION A 290 for Metformin HCl: Dicyanodiamide 0.567 Kg. and DMF 0.37 Kg., with immediate effect.

Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies updated: two new enlistments and additions of radiation meters and spectrometers authorised online.
DGFT has incorporated approvals of the 27th IMC (25.06.2025) into a revised Appendix 2G, adding two new PSIAs and permitting eleven existing PSIAs to add approved instruments-specifically Handheld Radiation Survey Meters and Radionuclide Identifiers (Spectrometers). Recognised agencies may issue PSIC online via the DGFT portal subject to conditions: valid calibration certificates, a bank guarantee, equipment to area mapping on the portal, and a registered office with a nationalised bank account in India. Recognitions are valid for three years or as specified.

Deemed export benefits procedure clarified: ANF 7A filing, jurisdiction, online submission, and single category application rule for TED and drawback claims.
ANF 7A claims for deemed export benefits must be filed online by supplier or recipient with IEC to the jurisdictional Regional Authority as per Appendix 1A, except EOUs where the DTA supplier claims from the jurisdictional RA and the EOU recipient files with the Jurisdictional Development Commissioner of SEZs under Appendix 6J if the supplier has not claimed benefits. Applicants must upload prescribed ANF 7A documents at filing, no physical copy is required, claims follow TED/drawback eligibility rules, and each application must pertain to a single category of supply under para 7.02.

Extension of LOP/LOI validity for EOUs and developer units clarified: up to five years or one-year extension.
Amendment to Para 6.34( h ) of HBP 2023 permits extending LOP/LOI validity: if a unit has commenced production, extensions may be granted per Para 6.01(c) for up to five years at a time; the initial two-year validity may be extended by one additional year for valid reasons recorded in writing, except where initial-period restrictions apply (e.g., oil refinery projects).

Gems and jewellery parcels can now be carried personally through Ahmedabad Airport for import and export, subject to customs procedures.
The Handbook of Procedures 2023 is amended to permit personal carriage of gems and jewellery parcels through Ahmedabad Airport for exports by foreign-bound passengers from all EOU/SEZ units and DTA firms and for imports brought by Indian importers or foreign nationals; Customs-prescribed procedures apply, export proceeds must be realised through normal banking channels, and imported parcels must be presented to Customs for examination, release, and normal customs clearance.

Export-related non-tariff measures: stakeholders must submit NTM and certification details within seven days via the online form.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade requires exporters, export promotion councils, commodity boards and industry associations to submit detailed information on export-related Non-Tariff Measures and testing/certification requirements - specifying name and nature of certification, whether mandatory or voluntary, affected sectors, approximate cost and validity, applicable countries/regions, recognised labs or certifying bodies, and compliance challenges - within seven days via the prescribed online form; non-submission may lead to those NTMs not being prioritised for inclusion in the Export Promotion Mission database and related support measures.

Importer Exporter Code application: ANF 1A merged into revised ANF 2A; online validation and post verification enabled.
ANF 1A is deleted and merged into a revised ANF 2A; IEC application details shall be validated through online integration with records of relevant Ministries/Departments/Organisations/Banks where feasible, with scanned supporting documents uploaded unless exempted by the online system; DGFT Headquarters will issue guidelines for post verification of online IECs.

Advance Authorisation redemption clarified for exporters impacted by IGST treatment and duty-exemption issues during specified imports.
Clarification states that the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) shall not be withheld where IGST was paid in cash at import clearance under the Advance Authorisation (AA) Scheme during the specified period, where the applicant did not avail IGST, Compensation Cess or other levy exemptions (except Basic Customs Duty), and where the applicant complied with prescribed pre-import and procedural requirements, reflecting prior Customs and DGFT notifications and subsequent directions permitting refunds or input tax credit where admissible.

SCOMET Authorisation: DGFT proposes a single unified ANF requiring technical specs, end user and compliance declarations.
Draft amendments propose a single consolidated Aayat Niryat Form for grant of SCOMET Authorisation, standardising application content across all types by requiring applicant identification, detailed SCOMET item descriptions and technical specifications (including drones and cryptography), prior three-year export history, shipment, consignee and end-user details, purpose of export, category-specific sections for global authorisations and repair/re-export, ICP/AEO and compliance disclosures, and signed undertakings affirming adherence to statutory licensing and reporting obligations.

Refund procedure for TRQ application fees: applicants may request refunds online once applications are marked closed.
Applicants whose provisional TRQ allocations for import of Gold under India-UAE CEPA have been cancelled may apply for refund of application fees once their application status shows closed on the DGFT portal. Refunds must be requested via Services e Miscellaneous Payment Service Apply for Refund, providing the closed restricted import authorisation file number and a validated bank account in the name of the IEC holder; DGFT login credentials and e sign/Digital Signature Certificate are required. Further assistance is available in the DGFT Refund Help Document.

Source from India eligibility extended to IECs meeting USD 100,000 export realisation for microsite registration.
Access to the Source from India service on Trade Connect is extended to any valid IEC (not in DEL) that records a minimum export realisation of USD 100,000 in at least one of the prior three financial years, with DGFT eBRC database aggregate financial year values serving as the sole eligibility reference; linked Trade Connect accounts will enable microsite creation and annexed guidance explains registration, submission and approval procedures.

Gold TRQ allocation under India UAE CEPA requires BIS hallmarking and GST registration and will use competitive online bidding.
Condition (g) of Annexure IV, Appendix 2A is amended to exclude gold dore from TRQ eligibility and to require applicants to have BIS hallmarking registration and GST registration for imports under tariff head 7108; TRQ allocations will be made through a competitive online bidding/tender process, with applications submitted via the DGFT Import Management System and bidding modalities and submission windows notified annually through a Trade Notice.

Authorised agencies for Preferential Certificate of Origin expanded to include specified sectoral bodies and SEZ units under India EFTA TEPA.
Amendment to Appendix 2B of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 authorises specified agencies to issue Preferential Certificates of Origin under the India EFTA TEPA. It lists DGFT and regional offices, Export Inspection Council and agencies, sectoral authorities such as APEDA, MPEDA, Central Silk Board, Coir Board, Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Spices Board, Textile Committee, Tobacco Board, and specified SEZs, assigning product coverage to each agency and confirming SEZ units and EOUs within zonal jurisdictions may obtain CoOs for all products.

Certificate of Origin self declaration permitted under India EFTA TEPA, allowing exporters an alternative to authorised agency issuance.
The HBP amendments add the India EFTA TEPA to the FTAs list and allow exporters to obtain a Certificate of Origin either from an authorised agency or by self declaration, providing an additional parallel mechanism for origin certification under the agreement.