DGFT Mandates Online Submissions and Payments for Show Cause and Adjudication Proceedings

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Trade Notice No. 29/2024-25, dated 11.02.2025, mandating that all submissions and payments related to Show Cause Notices (SCNs) and proceedings under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (FTDR Act) must be done exclusively online through the DGFT portal.

Key Highlights of the Trade Notice

Mandatory Online Filing of Responses to SCNs and Other Proceedings

Effective immediately, all replies to:
- Show Cause Notices (SCNs),
- Adjudication proceedings,
- Appeals and Reviews under the FTDR Act
  must be submitted only via the DGFT portal.
Paper-based responses will no longer be accepted by DGFT Regional Authorities (RAs).

Mandatory Online Payment of Penalties

All penalties levied through adjudication, appeal, or review orders under the FTDR Act must be paid online against the respective file on the DGFT platform.
Use of the “Miscellaneous Payment” option is discouraged to avoid misclassification and future complications.

Implementation Guidance

The DGFT has advised exporters, importers, and consultants to access detailed help manuals under the “Learn > Application Help & FAQs” section of the DGFT website to ensure accurate compliance.
This initiative is aligned with India’s broader goals of:
- Enhancing the ease of doing business,
- Promoting paperless governance, and
- Automating enforcement under the FTDR Act.

Implications for Trade Stakeholders

Exporters & Importers: Must ensure readiness with digital credentials and familiarity with DGFT’s online modules to avoid procedural defaults in ongoing cases.
Legal Advisors & Consultants: Should adapt internal processes to eliminate physical filing of replies and payment proofs. System-generated acknowledgements and e-payment receipts will now serve as the only admissible documents.
DGFT Regional Authorities: Will be governed by a unified digital workflow for enforcement, making adjudication records and compliance tracking more transparent and efficient.

Conclusion

This trade notice is a milestone in the digital transformation of India’s trade governance system, closing the final gaps in the adjudication and compliance processes under the FTDR Act. By making online response submissions and payments mandatory, DGFT ensures greater accountability, transparency, and ease of compliance for the trade community.

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Source: DGFT

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