The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 45/2025-26 dated January 23, 2026, formally notifying the procedure and guidelines for the second round of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) allocation for the import of gold (HS 7108) under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for FY 2025-26.
The allocation will be carried out through a competitive e-auction process on the MSTC platform and takes immediate effect.
Background: Delhi High Court Directions
The second round follows Public Notice No. 31/2025-26 and Trade Notice No. 16/2025-26 dated October 29, 2025. DGFT initiated the fresh allocation in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court, which required the process to be broadened and made more inclusive. The court directed that:
- Eligible applicants without a substantial five-year track record should also be considered, provided they meet prescribed criteria
- DGFT should examine grievances related to access to TRQ allocation
- Additional conditions or safeguards may be introduced to ensure fairness and transparency
With these directions, all related petitions and pending applications stand disposed of.
Eligibility Conditions
As per Annexure-IV of Appendix 2A of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, only applicants meeting all eligibility requirements will be considered. Key points include,-
- Applicants must hold valid IEC, GSTIN, and BIS hallmark registration
- MSME certificate must be submitted where applicable
- Import of gold dore is not permitted under this TRQ
- Applicants who participated in the first round are also eligible to bid again
Validity of TRQ Authorisations
- TRQ authorisations are valid only for imports made during FY 2025-26
- No carry-forward of unutilised quota is allowed beyond the financial year
- Imports must be completed within six months from the date of authorisation, subject to FY limits
Allocation Through E-Auction on MSTC
DGFT will conduct allocation via a competitive e-auction/tender on the MSTC portal.
Key Features of the Auction Process
- Single bid window comprising a Technical Bid and Financial Bid
- Participation fee: ₹5,000 + GST
- Bid Security: ₹1,00,000 (to be deposited on MSTC before document upload)
- Financial bids must be submitted only in the prescribed Excel format
- Only technically qualified bidders will have their financial bids opened
Roles and Responsibilities
DGFT Will:
- Issue clarifications and interpretations where required
- Upload tender instructions and updates on its website
- Inform bidders of qualification and allocation decisions through the Evaluation and Facilitation Committee (EFC)
Bidders Must:
- Submit complete, accurate and authentic documentation
- Accept all risks associated with the e-auction process
- Ensure strict compliance with tender conditions; any deviation may lead to rejection
Timeline and Bid Submission
The detailed timeline for the tender process will be notified separately through a Trade Notice on the DGFT website.
Bidders must strictly adhere to the timelines specified in the tender document, as late or incomplete submissions will not be entertained.
Effect of the Public Notice
With the issuance of this notification, DGFT has formally operationalised the second round of TRQ allocation for gold imports under India-UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26. The procedure comes into immediate effect and will govern all allocations made under this round.
Source: DGFT Public Notice 45/2025-26 dated 24/01/2026