The DGFT, Department of Commerce, has issued Public Notice No. 39/2025–26 dated December 17, 2025 notifying the detailed procedure for allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for import of Gold under the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for the financial year 2025–26.
Under the India–UAE CEPA, which came into force on 1st May 2022, India has extended concessional customs duty benefits for import of gold from the United Arab Emirates, aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and ensuring predictable import flows. The TRQ mechanism facilitates transparent and competitive allocation of the quota through an e-auction process.
Key Highlights
- Mode of Allocation: Allocation of Gold TRQ will be carried out through a competitive e-bidding (e-auction) process conducted on the MSTC e-commerce platform.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and hold a valid GST registration. Imports of gold dore under the TRQ are not permitted.
- Participation by MSMEs: Micro and Small Enterprises are eligible to participate, subject to BIS hallmarking norms. Quantity limits have been prescribed to ensure wider participation.
- Bid Structure: The tender comprises technical and financial bids. Financial bids will be submitted through multiple price buckets, enabling competitive price discovery.
- Security Deposit: A bid security of ₹1,00,000 is required to be submitted as part of the technical bid.
- Transparency and Oversight: The Exim Facilitation Committee (EFC) will examine technically qualified bids and recommend allocation of quantities. Final allocation and issuance of TRQ authorisations will be done by DGFT.
- Indicative Timeline:
- Bid start date: 29th December 2025
- Bid due date: 02nd January 2026
- Opening of technical bids: 05th January 2026
- Issuance of TRQ authorisations: Second week of January 2026
- Compliance Framework: The tender process will be governed by the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), and other applicable laws and regulations. DGFT retains the right to amend, suspend, or cancel the tender process as per provisions.
The detailed tender document, annexures, and procedural guidelines are available on the DGFT website and the MSTC portal for reference by prospective bidders.
This initiative reflects the Government’s continued commitment to transparent trade facilitation, efficient quota management, and deepening economic engagement with the UAE under the CEPA framework.
The Public Notice can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Public-Notice-39-English.pdf
