Paragraph 10 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Paragraph 10.13 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 gives the procedure for two cases of temporary movement of SCOMET items: Indian exporters sending items abroad for a demonstration, display, exhibition or tender, and foreign-owned items brought to India for the same purposes that must go back afterwards. The Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 lists the type in paragraph 10.08(vi). This article is on the Handbook paragraph and gives no view on whether any item is controlled.
Applications are made on ANF 10A through the online SCOMET portal and considered by the Chairman of the IMWG. Part (A) covers export of indigenous or imported items for demo, display, exhibition or tenders abroad, on a temporary export basis with return within 90 days after the event or the extended time DGFT allows. Part (B) covers export of imported items after participation in India, to the original supplier or its OEM. Part (A) allows no commercial transaction in the form of selling, buying, renting or leasing.
The procedure is taken from Chapter 10 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 as published on the DGFT website (file of July 2026), consulted on 2 October 2026. Later Public Notices should be checked before acting. The Handbook is issued by the Director General under section 6 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, explained in our article on section 6 of the FTDR Act; the Policy is made under section 5, and Chapter 10 rests on Chapter IVA of the Act (sections 14A and 14B). If you plan to show a controlled product abroad, our restricted items import-export licence team can help with the authorisation.
How the paragraph begins
An application for an authorisation for (i) export of indigenous or imported SCOMET items for demo, display, exhibition, tenders, RFP, RFQ or NIT purposes abroad, and (ii) export of SCOMET items imported for participation in such events in India, is made in ANF 10A through the online SCOMET portal, with supporting documents as required in the prescribed proforma. The Chairman IMWG considers it on fulfilment of the conditions below. A note at the end explains that RFP is Request for Proposal, RFQ is Request for Quotation and NIT is Notice Inviting Tender.
Part (A): export for demo, display, exhibition or tenders abroad
Scope
Authorisations for export of items in the SCOMET list (other than those under Categories 0, 1, 2 and 6, or "Technology" or "Software" in any category) "solely for purposes of" demo, display, exhibition or tenders are considered by the Chairman IMWG on these conditions.
Conditions (a) to (i)
| Condition | What it says |
|---|---|
| (a) | Considered purely on a temporary export basis for a specified time period |
| (b) | No end-user certificate is insisted upon |
| (c) | There shall not be any commercial transaction in the form of selling, buying, renting or leasing |
| (d) | The number of items should be commensurate with the nature of the export items and the purpose of the application |
| (e) | No exchange or disclosure of information which could lead to transfer of technology |
| (f) | No authorisation for destinations sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council or countries or entities of high risk as assessed by the IMWG from time to time |
| (g) | The application carries the documents prescribed in Appendix 10G |
| (h) | A Legal Undertaking on stamp paper of Rs. 200, in the proforma at Appendix 10K |
| (i) | Authorisations are approved after verifying the credentials of the event or organiser |
The Appendices are named only. The categories excluded in the scope sentence are the categories as numbered in the paragraph; the list entries inside them are not described here.
Return of items and post-reporting
- (a) Exported items are brought back to India within 90 days after the event gets over, or within the extended time allowed by DGFT.
- (b) The licensee intimates the Bill of Entry confirming the return to DGFT (Hqrs) in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-I of Appendix 10K), duly signed in ink and stamped by the authorised signatory.
The 90 days run from the end of the event, not from the date of export. The paragraph does not describe how the extension is requested, and none is described here.
Part (B): export of imported items after participation in India
Applications for export of imported SCOMET items (other than those under Categories 0, 1, 2 and 6, or "Technology" or "Software" in any category) to the entity from which they were originally imported, or to its OEM (including an agency authorised by the OEM), after demo, display, exhibition, tender, RFP, RFQ or NIT in India are considered by the Chairman IMWG on these conditions.
| Condition | What it says |
|---|---|
| (a) | The items were imported to India for the event under a contract agreement between the Indian exporter and the supplier or OEM (including an authorised agency) |
| (b) | Export only to the entity from which the items were imported, or to the OEM or authorised agency |
| (c) | No details on "End Use" and "End Use Certificate" are required |
| (d) | No authorisation for sanctioned or high-risk destinations as assessed by the IMWG |
| (e) | The application carries the documents prescribed in Appendix 10H |
| (f) | Export to the original entity or the OEM is approved by the Chairman IMWG without consulting IMWG members |
| (g) | For export to any other entity, the Chairman approves after verifying the credentials of the foreign entity |
| (h) | All such authorisations are brought before the IMWG at its next meeting for confirmation of approval on an ex-post facto basis |
Part (B) has no Rs. 200 undertaking in its list and no 90-day return rule: the items are returning abroad, so the rule on bringing them back does not apply.
How it fits with other authorisation types
Paragraph 10.08(vi) of the Policy describes the type as "Temporary export of SCOMET items", covering demo, display, exhibition, tenders, RFP, RFQ and NIT abroad, or return abroad after such use in India. Our article on paragraph 10.08 lists all thirteen types and the validity table. The validity of an authorisation under this paragraph is, on the words of paragraph 10.17 of the Handbook, 24 months unless otherwise specified; the paragraph itself fixes only the 90-day return rule. Repair-related exports are in a different paragraph, explained in our article on paragraph 10.12 of the Handbook.
An example
Aurora Robotics Private Limited, an invented company, will show a demonstration unit at an exhibition abroad. The unit is not in Categories 0, 1, 2 or 6. Aurora applies on ANF 10A with the Appendix 10G documents and the Rs. 200 Legal Undertaking, and shows the organiser's credentials. It will not sell or lease the unit at the event, will send only the number of units that fits the purpose, and will not share information that could transfer technology. After the exhibition ends, it has 90 days to bring the unit back, unless DGFT allows more time, and it then intimates the Bill of Entry in the Annexure to Appendix 10K. Separately, a foreign OEM sends a unit to Aurora for a tender demonstration in India, and Aurora applies under Part (B) to send it back to the OEM, using Appendix 10H.
Need help with a temporary export authorisation?
An exhibition date leaves little room for delay, and the application needs organiser credentials, the Appendix documents and a Legal Undertaking. Our restricted items import-export licence team can prepare the file and track the 90-day return.
Key takeaways
- Paragraph 10.13: ANF 10A through the online SCOMET portal; the Chairman IMWG decides.
- Part (A): temporary export, no commercial transaction, no information leading to transfer of technology, return within 90 days after the event.
- Part (A): Legal Undertaking on stamp paper of Rs. 200 (Appendix 10K) and documents in Appendix 10G.
- Part (B): export of imported items after participation in India to the original entity or OEM, with Appendix 10H documents.
- All such authorisations are confirmed by the IMWG at its next meeting on an ex-post facto basis (stated in Part (B)).
Read next
- Handbook of Procedures, 2023, paragraph 10.12: SCOMET repair, replacement and GAER
- Handbook of Procedures, 2023, paragraph 10.10: SCOMET stock and sale authorisation
- Paragraph 10.08 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023: types and validity of SCOMET authorisations
- SCOMET export controls and the catch-all provision
Disclaimer: Based on the chapter-wise text of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 published on the DGFT website, and on the later Notifications named in this article, as consulted on 2 October 2026. The copies carry no "updated up to" date. Notifications, Public Notices, Trade Notices, the ITC(HS) schedules, Appendices and forms change often; the current text on the DGFT website should be checked before acting. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.