My RoDTEP scrip for a shipping bill exported two years ago is still pending. How can RTI identify the bottleneck?

File an RTI with the CPIO of the DGFT Regional Authority covering the port of export and ask: (1) What is the status of the RoDTEP scrip claim for shipping bill number [XXX] dated [date] from port [XXX]? Has the scrip been issued? If not, at what stage is the claim — is it pending with DGFT, with Customs, or with another authority? (2) If the claim has been rejected or placed on hold, please provide the specific reason and the exact provision of the Foreign Trade Policy or notification under which it was disallowed. (3) What is the name and designation of the officer currently responsible for processing this claim? (4) How many RoDTEP scrip claims filed at this Regional Authority for the export period [year-year] remain undisbursed as of the date of this application? The response will establish whether the delay is queue-driven or substantive — and, if the latter, give you the legal basis of the hold that you can challenge in a First Appeal or before the DGFT grievance redressal mechanism.

What information can RTI obtain regarding a SCOMET export licence application that has been decided?

SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) licences are issued by DGFT Headquarters, New Delhi. For a concluded application, RTI addressed to the CPIO at DGFT HQ can seek: (1) the status of SCOMET licence application bearing reference number [XXX] — whether granted, refused, or kept pending; (2) if granted, the licence number, date of grant, validity period, and conditions attached; (3) if refused, the specific grounds of refusal; (4) whether an Inter-Ministerial consultation (with the Department of Atomic Energy, DRDO, Ministry of External Affairs, or any other body) was conducted, and the outcome of such consultation. Note that information about ongoing SCOMET applications or applications touching on national security considerations may be withheld under Section 8(1)(a) (sovereignty and security of India) or Section 8(1)(h) (impeding ongoing investigation or apprehension of offenders) of the RTI Act. RTI is most effective once the licence decision has been communicated.

Anti-dumping duty was imposed on a product I import. How can RTI help me understand the basis of the duty order?

Anti-dumping investigations are conducted by the Designated Authority (DA) within DGFT, and the final duty is imposed by the Ministry of Finance by way of a Customs Notification. For a concluded anti-dumping investigation, RTI to the CPIO at DGFT Headquarters (for the DA's findings) and, separately, to the Ministry of Finance — Department of Revenue (for the duty notification) can obtain: (1) the final findings document of the Designated Authority for the anti-dumping investigation concerning product [XXX] from country [XXX], including the injury margin, dumping margin, and the determination of material injury to the domestic industry; (2) the date on which the investigation was initiated, the period of investigation (POI), and the date of the final finding; (3) copies of any public notices issued in the course of the investigation. The final findings document is typically a public document — if DGFT refuses to provide it, that refusal is challengeable in a First Appeal. Note that information about ongoing investigations before the final determination may be withheld under Section 8(1)(h).

DGFT did not respond to my RTI within 30 days. What are my next steps, and where is the Second Appeal filed?

If DGFT does not respond within 30 days of the date of receipt of your application, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same DGFT Regional Authority or DGFT Headquarters (depending on where you filed) within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons recorded in writing). If the FAA also does not respond in time or the response is unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the First Appeal period. DGFT is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry — the Second Appeal always goes to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC can direct disclosure of information and may impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the errant CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with DGFT — Import Export Code, Export Incentives and Trade Licence

Central Government

How to File RTI with DGFT — Import Export Code, Export Incentives and Trade Licence

Q: My IEC application was submitted online on the DGFT portal but has not been generated for over three weeks. What should I ask in an RTI to the DGFT Regional Authority?

File an RTI with the CPIO of the DGFT Regional Authority having jurisdiction over your business address. Ask: (1) What is the current status of IEC application bearing reference number [XXX] submitted on [date] in the name of [firm name / PAN]? Has the IEC been issued? If yes, please provide the IEC number and date of issuance. (2) If the IEC has not been issued, what is the specific reason for the delay or rejection, and under which provision of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, or the relevant Foreign Trade Policy notification was the application withheld? (3) Was any deficiency notice or query sent to the applicant? If yes, please provide the date and content of such notice. (4) What is the average processing time for IEC applications at this Regional Authority, and what is the target turnaround time as per the current Foreign Trade Policy? This forces DGFT to explain whether the delay is systemic or specific to your application.

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for Import Export Code (IEC) registration status, RoDTEP/RoSCTL export incentive scrip status, SCOMET export licence application, anti-dumping investigation findings, and Foreign Trade Policy provisions. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Commerce and Industry

Address RTI ToCPIO, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Udyog Bhawan, H-Wing, Gate No. 2, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi – 110011 / CPIO, DGFT Regional Authority (relevant region)

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the principal authority responsible for administering India's foreign trade policy under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It issues Import Export Codes (IECs), grants export incentive scrips under schemes such as RoDTEP and RoSCTL, licences exports of sensitive dual-use items under the SCOMET list, and houses the Designated Authority (DA) that conducts anti-dumping investigations.

DGFT is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Both DGFT Headquarters in New Delhi and every DGFT Regional Authority across the country are legally obligated to respond to RTI applications within 30 days. For exporters and importers facing delays in IEC issuance, stalled export incentive scrips, or unexplained licence rejections, RTI is the most effective legal instrument to compel a transparent response from DGFT.

DGFT Regional Authorities vs. DGFT Headquarters: Which Office to File With

DGFT operates through Headquarters in New Delhi and a network of Regional Authorities in major cities. Filing with the right office is critical — an application sent to the wrong office must be transferred, adding to delay.

Issue	Correct RTI Respondent	Why
IEC application status or rejection	DGFT Regional Authority with jurisdiction over your business address	IEC is issued by the Regional Authority, not HQ
RoDTEP / RoSCTL scrip status for a specific shipping bill	DGFT Regional Authority for the port of export	Scrip disbursement is handled at the Regional Authority level
MEIS claim rejection (historical)	DGFT Regional Authority where the claim was filed	MEIS was administered regionally; files are held there
SCOMET export licence status	DGFT Headquarters, New Delhi	SCOMET licences are issued centrally by DGFT HQ
Anti-dumping investigation findings	DGFT Headquarters, New Delhi (Designated Authority)	The DA sits within DGFT HQ; all investigation records are there
Foreign Trade Policy circular or notification	DGFT Headquarters, New Delhi	Policy is made and notified at the HQ level
Whether a specific import/export requires a licence	DGFT Regional Authority (initial query) or DGFT HQ (policy interpretation)	Licensing schedules and classifications are a HQ function

To find the DGFT Regional Authority with jurisdiction over your city or state, visit dgft.gov.in and navigate to "Contact Us" or "Regional Offices." If you are uncertain, file with the Regional Authority and note in your application that the CPIO may transfer it under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act if the information is held by a different office.

Export Incentive Schemes: RoDTEP, RoSCTL, and MEIS

India's export incentive landscape has changed significantly. The table below summarises the three main schemes and how RTI can assist.

Scheme	What It Covers	Current Status (as of 2026)	RTI Use
RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products)	Remission of embedded central and state duties not refunded under GST — issued as transferable e-scrips	Current scheme; rates notified product-wise by HS code	Seek scrip status for a specific shipping bill; seek reasons for delay or rejection
RoSCTL (Remission of State and Central Levies and Taxes)	Specifically for apparel and made-up textile exports; covers state levies not covered by RoDTEP	Current scheme for textiles	Seek scrip status; seek the rate table applicable to your product category
MEIS (Merchandise Exports from India Scheme)	Duty credit scrips based on export value; replaced by RoDTEP	Phased out; claims for exports made before its closure remain to be settled	RTI can seek the specific basis on which a pending MEIS claim was rejected and the provision of the Foreign Trade Policy under which it was disallowed

Common RTI Use Cases for DGFT

Issue	What to Ask	What to Expect
IEC not generated after online application	Status of IEC application (reference number, PAN, date of submission); reason for delay or rejection; whether deficiency notice was issued	DGFT must state whether IEC was issued or explain the holding reason; delays are often flagged as PAN mismatch or pending verification
RoDTEP / RoSCTL scrip pending for over a year	Status of scrip claim (shipping bill number, port, date); stage at which claim is stuck; name of responsible officer	DGFT must identify whether the delay is on their side or with Customs; helps escalate to the right authority
MEIS claim rejected	Specific basis of rejection; provision of Foreign Trade Policy or notification cited; copy of rejection order	RTI forces DGFT to provide the legal basis, which is needed to challenge the rejection in an appeal or review petition
SCOMET licence — application decided	Licence number and conditions (if granted); grounds of refusal (if refused); inter-ministerial consultation outcome	RTI is effective for concluded applications; ongoing applications may be withheld under Section 8(1)(a) or 8(1)(h)
Anti-dumping duty — basis of imposition	Final findings of the Designated Authority (DA) for a concluded investigation; dumping margin; injury determination	Final DA findings are public documents; if DGFT refuses, challenge in First Appeal
Whether an import/export needs a licence	Whether the product (HS code) falls under any restricted, prohibited, or licensed category under the current Foreign Trade Policy	DGFT must provide the schedule classification and any applicable condition

Where to File: rtionline.gov.in

All RTI applications to DGFT — both HQ and Regional Authorities — can be filed online at rtionline.gov.in.

Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
Select Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the Ministry / Department
Select Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) as the public authority; where the portal lists specific Regional Authorities, choose the correct one by city or state
In the text of your application, state all identifying details — IEC application reference number, shipping bill number, scrip reference, SCOMET licence reference, HS code, or trade investigation product description, as applicable
Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt — attach a copy of your BPL card
Submit and note your registration number for future tracking

Tip on document requests: If you need copies of a specific order, scrip, rejection letter, or investigation finding, state explicitly: "I seek a certified copy of name of document." A vague request may result in DGFT providing only a summary.

What Specific Information Can You Ask DGFT For

The following categories of information can be sought from DGFT through an RTI application:

IEC registration status: Whether a specific IEC application (identified by reference number or PAN) has been processed, the date of issuance, the IEC number, or the specific reason for delay or rejection including the legal provision cited.
Export incentive scrip status (RoDTEP / RoSCTL): Whether a scrip has been issued for a particular shipping bill; the scrip number and value if issued; or the specific reason for delay or non-issuance, including whether the hold is at DGFT or at Customs.
MEIS claim rejection basis: The exact provision of the Foreign Trade Policy or notification under which an MEIS claim was disallowed; a copy of the rejection order; and the date on which the decision was communicated.
SCOMET licence status and conditions: For a concluded application, whether the licence was granted or refused; if granted, the licence number, validity, and conditions; if refused, the grounds of refusal; and whether inter-ministerial consultation was completed.
Anti-dumping investigation findings: The final findings of the Designated Authority (DA) for a concluded anti-dumping investigation — including the period of investigation, dumping margin, injury margin, and the DA's recommendation — for a specific product and source country.
Foreign Trade Policy provisions: The text of a specific FTP notification, circular, or classification that determines whether a product is freely importable/exportable or requires a licence; the HS code classification of a product under the current policy schedule.

What DGFT May Decline to Provide

RTI does not give access to all government information. DGFT may legitimately withhold:

Ongoing anti-dumping investigations (before the final determination): Documents that could alert dumping parties and impede the quasi-judicial process may be withheld under Section 8(1)(h).
Classified trade negotiations: Any material relating to India's ongoing trade negotiations or diplomatic positions may be withheld under Section 8(1)(a) (sovereignty and security of the State) or Section 8(1)(e) (fiduciary relationship with foreign governments).
Third-party commercial data: Information about another exporter's scrip, IEC, or transaction that is not your own may be withheld under Section 8(1)(j) (personal information not related to a public activity) or for confidentiality.

If DGFT cites any Section 8 exemption to deny your request, the First Appeal is the appropriate forum to challenge whether the exemption was correctly applied.

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If DGFT does not respond within 30 days, or if the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same office — DGFT Regional Authority FAA or DGFT HQ FAA, depending on where your original application was filed. File within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with reasons.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is also absent or inadequate, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the First Appeal period. DGFT is a Central Government body — the Second Appeal always goes to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC can direct DGFT to provide the requested information and may impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the errant CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
DGFT Regional Authority, [Name of Region],
[Full Address of Relevant Regional Authority Office]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Import Export Code Status / Export Incentive Scrip Status / SCOMET Licence Application

Sir / Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], resident of [Your Full Address], hereby seek the following information under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, pertaining to the matters described below:

[Fill in the applicable section(s) below:]

A. REGARDING IMPORT EXPORT CODE (IEC) APPLICATION:
IEC Application Reference Number: [XXX]
Date of Online Submission: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Applicant Firm Name / PAN: [XXX]

1. What is the current status of the above IEC application? Has the IEC been issued? If yes, please provide the IEC number and date of issuance.

2. If the IEC has not been issued, what is the specific reason for the delay or rejection? Please cite the exact provision of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, or the relevant notification / policy circular under which the application was held or rejected.

3. Was any deficiency notice or query issued to the applicant? If yes, please provide the date, mode (email / letter), and content of such notice.

B. REGARDING RoDTEP / RoSCTL SCRIP CLAIM:
Shipping Bill Number: [XXX]
Shipping Bill Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Port of Export: [XXX]
Scrip Application Reference (if any): [XXX]

4. What is the current status of the RoDTEP / RoSCTL scrip claim for the above shipping bill? Has the scrip been issued? If yes, please provide the scrip number, date of issuance, and value.

5. If the scrip has not been issued or has been rejected, what is the specific reason? Please provide the exact provision of the Foreign Trade Policy or the relevant notification under which the claim was disallowed.

6. What is the name, designation, and contact details of the officer at the DGFT Regional Authority / headquarters responsible for processing the above claim?

I am enclosing the prescribed fee of ₹10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request that the information be provided within 30 days from the date of receipt of this application, as mandated under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Mobile Number]
[Your Email Address]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rather have us file it for you?

We research your case, identify the right department, draft the RTI with proven language, and file it on your behalf. Pay ₹149 + GST only after we've done the work.

File RTI — it's free to start