The government has extended the validity of tariff rate quota (TRQ) authorisations issued for gold imports under the India-UAE trade pact for FY 2025-26 until September 30, giving importers additional time to utilise their licences.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), in a public notice, said the extension would apply automatically to all TRQ authorisations issued during the financial year 2025-26 under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
“No separate application, composition fee, amendment or endorsement is required” for availing the extension, the DGFT said.
India and the United Arab Emirates implemented the CEPA in May 2022 to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. Under the agreement, India allows the import of up to 200 metric tonnes of gold annually from the UAE at a concessional customs duty under the tariff rate quota mechanism.
Gold imports from the UAE declined 9% to $15.4 billion in 2025-26 from $16.83 billion in the previous financial year. Imports stood at $7.64 billion in 2022-23, $3.08 billion in 2021-22 and $5.9 billion in 2020-21.
India’s overall gold imports, however, rose sharply by 24% year-on-year to around $72 billion in the last fiscal, compared with $58 billion in 2024-25.
In a separate trade notice, the DGFT also initiated a review of wheat flour and related product export allocations.
The authority has sought utilisation details from exporters who received export authorisations, aiming to assess the quantities already used and determine whether any unutilised quota should be reallocated.
Exporters must submit utilisation certificates issued by Chartered Accountants showing quantities exported against allocated authorisations up to June 30, 2026. They must also provide shipping bill details and copies of export contracts or purchase orders, wherever available.