Govt Revamps DGFT Norms Committees To Fast-Track Export Approvals
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has rolled out key reforms to streamline the functioning of Norms Committees under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, aiming to accelerate approvals under export-linked schemes and ease processes for exporters.
The move focuses on faster clearance of applications under the Advance Authorisation (AA) and Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) schemes, which allow duty-free import of inputs used in export production.
To tackle delays caused by capacity constraints, the government has introduced structured reforms, including fortnightly committee meetings, prioritisation of pending cases, and time-bound finalisation of decisions. Monitoring systems for tracking pendency and case ageing have also been strengthened.
Additionally, line ministries have been directed to nominate more technical experts, increasing the number of members from 12 to 22. This is expected to significantly boost the committees’ efficiency and reduce backlog, improving ease of doing business for exporters.
