Foreign Trade
DGFT policy, export schemes and import conditions.
12stories · New facility
October 2026
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Cabinet approves Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA) as an SPV; technical appraisal for central infrastructure projects of ₹500 crore or more
Projects of ₹500 crore or moreNew facilityThe Union Cabinet on 6 October 2026 approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), for research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment in transportation and logistics. ITLA will prepare a National Transport Master Plan, technically appraise Government of India infrastructure projects costing ₹500 crore or more, and build a National Transport Data Repository using sources such as GSTN e-way bill, FASTag and Vahan. The release does not say when ITLA will start functioning.
September 2026
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India–New Zealand FTA enters into force on 20 October 2026; zero duty on all Indian exports from day one
20 October 2026New facilityEvery tariff line covering India’s exports to New Zealand becomes duty-exempt on entry into force. Dairy, sugar and edible oils stay excluded from India’s concessions.
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India and MERCOSUR sign First Additional Protocol to the PTA: electronic Certificates of Origin to have the same legal validity as paper ones
India–MERCOSUR: e-CoO acceptedNew facilityIndia and MERCOSUR have signed the First Additional Protocol to their Preferential Trade Agreement. It amends Article 16 of Annex III (Rules of Origin) so that Certificates of Origin issued in electronic format have the same legal validity as paper ones. The Protocol enters into force only after both sides complete their internal procedures and notify each other.
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Exporters can now connect their ERP to DGFT’s Certificate of Origin system
connect their ERPNew facilityAn Open API on the Trade Connect e-Platform lets an exporter’s own software file Certificate of Origin applications and verify issued certificates, for both preferential and non-preferential certificates.
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Certificate of Origin can now be filed through an Open API from the exporter’s own ERP: DGFT Trade Notice No. 25/2026-27
CoO Open API releasedNew facilityDGFT has released an Open API facility for Certificates of Origin on the Trade Connect e-Platform. Exporters can connect their ERP, accounting or other software to DGFT’s CoO system to submit applications and verify certificates electronically. The trade notice carries a help manual with the technical steps.
August 2026
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Free Sale and Commerce Certificates to be issued automatically on the DGFT portal: Trade Notice No. 24/2026-27
Automated FSC on DGFT portalNew facilityDGFT is enabling automated issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates (FSC) on its portal, moving from manual verification by Regional Authorities to a rule-based, system-driven workflow. Applications that need verification may still go to the Regional Authority, and some auto-approved ones may be flagged for review later.
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Bank Guarantee Repository on DGFT portal gets expiry alerts, status tracking and digitally signed notices: Trade Notice No. 23/2026-27
BG expiry alerts: 60 and 45 daysNew facilityDGFT has deployed new features in the Bank Guarantee Repository Module on its portal. Exporters must now indicate whether a BG is a fresh submission or a replacement, and will get system emails 60 days and 45 days before a BG expires. Regional Authorities can issue digitally signed renewal, encashment and return communications through the portal.
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Export Obligation extension approved by PRC or EPCG Committee will now be issued by the system — no second application to the RA
No second applicationNew facilityTrade Notice 21/2026-27 introduces an automated facility for Advance Authorisation and EPCG cases: once the Committee approves, the exporter pays the fee on the DGFT portal and the extension letter is generated automatically.
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DPIIT-recognised start-ups can now list on DGFT’s “Source from India” with only an active IEC
Start-up BadgeNew facilityTrade Notice 16 dated 6 August 2026 opens the Trade Connect buyer-discovery service to start-ups, with a special onboarding route for those yet to meet the export performance criteria.
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Inventory-based cross-border e-commerce framework made operational; ANF-9A notified for registration of Exporters-on-Record: DGFT Public Notice 25/2026-27
ANF-9A for Exporter-on-RecordNew facilityDGFT has inserted paras 9.03 to 9.07 in Chapter 9 of the Handbook of Procedures to operationalise the Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework, and notified ANF-9A for registration as Exporter-on-Record. The procedures cover inventory records, seller visibility, returns, a yearly compliance certificate and dispute resolution, with immediate effect.
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E-commerce exports get an inventory model: DGFT notifies the Exporter-on-Record framework; sellers to be paid within 7 days
Paid within 7 daysNew facilityNotification 27/2026-27 adds an Inventory-based Cross-border E-Commerce Facilitation Framework to the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. A registered Exporter-on-Record buys Indian-origin goods from sellers against confirmed export orders, holds them only for export, and passes on the export benefits.
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Seven new SIONs A-3708 to A-3714 notified for pharma products including Meropenem and Liraglutide: DGFT Public Notice No. 23/2026-27
SION A-3708 to A-3714New facilityDGFT has notified seven new Standard Input Output Norms, A-3708 to A-3714, under “Chemical and Allied Product” (Product Code ‘A’). They cover Theophylline, a Liraglutide pen injection, Lumefantrine, three strengths of Meropenem injection and ophthalmic solutions. Regional Authorities can now grant Advance Authorisations for these directly.
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