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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has restricted the import of plain metallic jewellery unless expressly authorised successful a bid to curb misuse of India’s assorted Free Trade Agreements, the authorities announced. An investigation by The Hindu recovered astir of these imports were coming from Thailand. The notification was issued precocious evening connected September 24, 2025.
“The move, announced done Notification No. 34/2025-26 dated September 24, 2025, aims to curb the misuse of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and code large-scale imports of metallic successful the guise of finished jewellery,” the Ministry of Commerce said successful an authoritative connection pursuing the contented of the notification.
According to the DGFT, these restrictions person been introduced successful airy of the steep emergence successful the import of plain metallic jewellery successful the April-June 2025 4th arsenic compared to the aforesaid 4th of the erstwhile year.
An investigation by The Hindu of the monthly commercialized information made disposable by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that India’s imports of metallic jewellery accrued to $235.1 cardinal successful April-June 2025 from $63.4 cardinal successful the aforesaid 4th of the erstwhile year, a 270.6% increase.
The investigation further shows that the overwhelming bulk of these imports came from Thailand. Where India imported $50.9 cardinal worthy of metallic jewellery from Thailand successful April-June 2025, that worth accrued by 330% to $219 cardinal successful the aforesaid 4th of this year.
This inclination continued successful July 2025 arsenic well. Total imports of metallic jewellery successful July 2025 accrued to $148.5 cardinal from $41.8 cardinal successful July 2024, a 255.6% increase. With this, imports from Thailand accrued 288.5% to $142.7 cardinal successful July 2025.
“The imports circumventing the provisions of FTA were adversely affecting home manufacturers and posing a situation to employment successful the jewellery sector,” the Commerce Ministry said.
Under the caller framework, the import of plain metallic jewellery volition present beryllium permitted lone against a valid import authorisation issued by the DGFT, thereby allowing genuine commercialized portion preventing unfair practices.
“The authorities believes that the determination volition supply a level playing tract to India’s jewellery manufacturers, safeguard the interests of tiny and mean businesses, and unafraid livelihood opportunities for workers successful the sector,” the connection added.
