Section 6 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.
Section 6 creates the office at the centre of the Act: the Director General of Foreign Trade. It says who appoints the Director General, what the office does about the foreign trade policy, and which powers of the Central Government can be exercised by the Director General or a subordinate officer. This article explains it as per the Act as enacted in 1992 read with the 2010 Amendment Act.
The Central Government may appoint any person as the Director General of Foreign Trade. The Director General advises on the foreign trade policy and is responsible for carrying it out. By an Order published in the Gazette, the Central Government may let the Director General, or a subordinate officer, exercise its powers under the Act, except the powers under sections 3, 5, 15, 16 and 19.
Section 6(1): appointment
Section 6(1) says the Central Government "may appoint any person to be the Director General of Foreign Trade for the purposes of this Act". Two things are worth noting. The appointment is "for the purposes of this Act", so the office is a creature of this statute. And the text says "any person": it sets no qualification.
Section 2(d) defines "Director General" as the Director General of Foreign Trade appointed under section 6. Section 6(1) was not changed in 2010.
Section 6(2): advice on and carrying out the policy
Section 6(2), as amended in 2010, says the Director General "shall advise the Central Government in the formulation of the foreign trade policy and shall be responsible for carrying out that policy". In 1992 the words were "export and import policy"; the 2010 Act changed them to "foreign trade policy". The policy itself is made by the Central Government under section 5.
For a business, this is the legal basis for the Director General's office dealing with the day-to-day running of the policy: our guide on what DGFT is covers the practical side. For anyone who needs an Importer-exporter Code before dealing with that office, see our IEC registration service.
Section 6(3): delegation by Order
Section 6(3) allows the Central Government, "by Order published in the Official Gazette", to direct that any power exercisable by it under the Act "(other than the powers under sections 3, 5, 15, 16 and 19) may also be exercised, in such cases and subject to such conditions, by the Director General or such other officer subordinate to the Director General, as may be specified in the Order".
Break this down:
- How: by an Order published in the Gazette, not by an informal direction.
- What: any power of the Central Government under the Act, other than the five named sections.
- Who: the Director General or another officer subordinate to the Director General, as specified in the Order.
- Conditions: the Order may limit the cases and set conditions.
- Also: the word "also" shows the Central Government keeps the power itself.
Powers that stay with the Central Government
| Section | Subject | Why it is kept back |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Orders to develop, prohibit, restrict or regulate trade | Excluded by section 6(3) |
| 5 | Foreign trade policy | Excluded by section 6(3) |
| 15 | Appeal to the Central Government against the Director General's decisions | Excluded by section 6(3) |
| 16 | Review | Excluded by section 6(3) |
| 19 | Making rules | Excluded by section 6(3) |
The list is the one printed in 1992 and was not changed in 2010. The 2010 Act later added Chapter IIIA (section 9A) and Chapter IVA (sections 14A to 14E), which also contain powers of the Central Government, but section 6(3) still names only sections 3, 5, 15, 16 and 19. The text does not say how it applies to the new powers, and this article says only what is printed. Whether a particular power has been delegated depends on the Order made under section 6(3), which should be checked.
The Director General across the Act
The office appears throughout the Act, which shows why section 6 matters.
| Provision | Role of the Director General (or officer authorised) |
|---|---|
| Section 7 | Grants the Importer-exporter Code Number, or an authorised officer does |
| Section 8 | Suspends or cancels the Code after notice; grants a special licence |
| Section 9 | Grants, renews, refuses, suspends or cancels licences and similar instruments |
| Section 11(5) | Recovery of unpaid penalties |
| Section 13 | May impose penalties and adjudge confiscation |
| Section 15(1)(b) | Hears appeals against officers' decisions |
| Section 16 | Reviews orders of subordinate officers |
Example: a Delhi merchant is refused a licence by an officer subordinate to the Director General. The officer acts under section 9(2) as an officer authorised by the Director General, and the appeal route is described in section 9(5) and section 15.
The Policy, background
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 carries the Director General's functions into practice in several paragraphs. Para 2.58 says the Director General's decision on the interpretation of the Policy is final and binding, and para 2.59 lets the Director General in public interest grant exemption, relaxation or relief on grounds of genuine hardship (FTP 2023, in the copy consulted). Para 2.60(b) says the personal-hearing route does not apply to an order made in adjudication or appeal under the Act. These are policy provisions, not part of section 6, and later changes to them should be checked.
Need help dealing with the Director General's office?
Whether it is an Importer-exporter Code, a licence or a hearing, knowing which authority acts under which section saves time. Our IEC registration team can help you set up the Code you will need before any application. Later amendments to the Act and the Policy should be checked.
Key takeaways
- The Central Government appoints the Director General of Foreign Trade under section 6(1).
- Under section 6(2) the Director General advises on, and carries out, the foreign trade policy.
- Section 6(3) lets the Central Government delegate its powers by Order, except those under sections 3, 5, 15, 16 and 19.
- The 2010 Act changed only the words "export and import policy" to "foreign trade policy" in section 6(2).
- Check the delegating Order to see who can exercise a given power.
Read next
- Section 5: the foreign trade policy
- Section 7: the Importer-exporter Code Number
- Section 15: appeal against adjudication orders
- What is DGFT? Meaning, example and uses
Disclaimer: Based on the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 as enacted read with the Amendment Act of 2010, and on the Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993 as notified read with the Amendment Rules of 2015, as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendments, the current Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedures should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.