The government has made it mandatory for exporters of non-basmati rice to register their contracts with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) before shipments can be made.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said the export policy for non-basmati rice has been amended to incorporate this condition. APEDA, which functions under the Ministry of Commerce, oversees agricultural exports and will now act as the nodal body for contract clearances.
“Export of non-basmati rice shall be permitted only upon registration of contracts with APEDA,” the DGFT stated.
The move comes amid strong overseas demand for Indian rice. Exports of the commodity rose 6.4% year-on-year to $4.7 billion during the April–August period of FY26, according to official data.
India, the world’s largest rice exporter, has been taking a calibrated approach to manage domestic supply and ensure food price stability while meeting global demand.