- The 2023 policy took effect on 1 April 2023 and has no end date; DGFT amends it by notification.
- It rests on four pillars: incentive to remission, export promotion, ease of doing business and emerging areas.
- Read the policy for the principle, the Handbook of Procedures for the steps and Public Notices for changes.
What changed in 2023
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 was notified on 31 March 2023 and took effect on 1 April 2023. Unlike earlier five-year policies it has no end date, so DGFT updates it by notification when needed. Its stated goal is to lift India's exports of goods and services to US$ 2 trillion by 2030.
- From incentive to remission. Schemes aim to refund taxes and duties embedded in exports rather than subsidise them. See RoDTEP, drawback and IGST refund.
- Export promotion through collaboration. States, districts, Indian missions abroad and exporters work together, including the Districts as Export Hubs initiative and additional Towns of Export Excellence.
- Ease of doing business. More processes online, fewer manual approvals and lower transaction costs.
- Emerging areas. E-commerce exports, developing export hubs and streamlining SCOMET policy.
Verify the current text. Because the policy is open-ended, it is amended from time to time. Check dgft.gov.in for the latest Public Notices before relying on any figure in this guide.
Policy, procedure and notices: where to look
Most practical questions are answered by the Handbook of Procedures (how to apply, what documents) and by Public Notices that change a procedure mid-year. The policy gives the principle; the handbook gives the steps.
Schemes the policy governs
| Scheme | In one line | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Authorisation | Duty-free import of inputs used in exports | AA and EPCG guide |
| EPCG | Zero-duty import of capital goods against an export obligation | AA and EPCG guide |
| RoDTEP / RoSCTL | Refund of embedded taxes through transferable scrips or credit | Incentives guide |
| Status recognition | Export House levels with simpler procedures | Below |
| SCOMET | Authorisation for dual-use and strategic goods | Screening guide |
| Origin certification | Certificates for FTA and non-preferential origin | Rules of origin |
Status recognition
Exporters who reach set levels of export performance are recognised as Status Holders, from One Star Export House to Five Star Premier House. Higher levels bring procedural facilities, such as simpler dealings with DGFT and customs. Performance is measured over specified years against the thresholds below.
Status holder thresholds
Export performance needed for each recognition level, in US$ million. Hover or tab to a bar.
Show as a table
| Level | Export performance (US$ million) |
|---|---|
| One Star | 3 |
| Two Star | 25 |
| Three Star | 100 |
| Four Star | 500 |
| Five Star Premier | 2,000 |
RCMC: your membership card
To claim many benefits and to use certain facilities you need a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from the Export Promotion Council or commodity board for your products. Keep it valid and renew it on time, and add the RCMC number to your exporter master so it prints where required.
How EXIMnx helps: EXIMnx tracks licences, scrips and obligations from the policy schemes in one place and shows the status of each, with alerts before they lapse. See DGFT licences.
Frequently asked questions
When did Foreign Trade Policy 2023 start?
It was notified on 31 March 2023 and took effect on 1 April 2023, with no fixed end date.
What is the difference between the FTP and the Handbook of Procedures?
The FTP sets the policy; the Handbook of Procedures explains how to apply and what documents are needed.
What is an RCMC?
A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate from an Export Promotion Council, needed to claim many benefits.
- DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Handbook of Procedures and Public Notices: dgft.gov.in
- Department of Commerce, policy announcements: commerce.gov.in
This guide is a practical overview, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and procedures change by notification; confirm against the current text before you act.