Overview

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has classified imports of palladium, rhodium and iridium alloys containing over 1% gold as restricted, requiring import authorisation under Notification No.18/2025-26.
• A companion notification prohibits imports of colloidal precious metals and chemical compounds under Customs Tariff Heading 2843 without prior clearance.
• These measures expand March 5 controls on platinum alloys with purity below 99%, extending oversight to cover the full precious metals tariff category.
• India’s gold imports climbed 27.3% to $58 billion in 2024-25, prompting tighter rules to prevent smuggling through disguised alloy and compound shipments.
• Alloys with gold content under 1% remain exempt from restrictions to shield industrial users in electronics, automotive and chemical manufacturing from supply disruptions.