Government Extends STE Status of IPL for Urea Imports on Government Account Till 31st March 2027

In a significant move to ensure continued availability and streamlined import of agricultural inputs, the Government of India has extended the State Trading Enterprise (STE) status of Indian Potash Limited (IPL) for the import of Urea on Government account up to 31st March 2027.

The decision has been notified vide Notification No. 68/2025-26 dated March 27, 2026, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The notification is in exercise of the powers conferred under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

As per the notification, the existing import policy condition under ITC (HS) Code 31021010 (Urea) in Chapter 31 of Schedule-I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS), 2022, has been amended. This amendment formally extends the authorization granted to Indian Potash Limited (IPL) to act as a State Trading Enterprise for import of Urea on Government account.

The Government clarified that all other terms and conditions related to the import policy remain unchanged, as per earlier notifications, including Notification No. 79/2023 dated 18 March 2024.

Impact of the Notification

The extension ensures that the import of agricultural grade Urea on Government account will continue to be routed through Indian Potash Limited (IPL), in accordance with Para 2.21 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, which governs imports through State Trading Enterprises.

This measure is expected to facilitate efficient procurement, maintain supply stability, and support the agricultural sector by ensuring timely availability of fertilizers.

The Notification can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Notification-No.-68_0001.pdf