SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) | Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has officially announced the pilot launch of the Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu platform. This initiative represents a major step towards digital trade facilitation in India by establishing a digital single-window ecosystem for all testing and inspection agencies across the country. The platform is designed to provide faster, more transparent, and paperless certification for both export and import consignments, directly addressing long-standing issues of delays and lack of traceability in the current testing regime.
The core function of Lab Setu is to digitally connect exporters, importers, and accredited testing and inspection agencies through a unified online interface. This integration will allow traders to seamlessly search, select, apply, track the status of their testing applications, and ultimately obtain digitally signed test reports and certifications for their commodities. Exporters and importers will be able to utilize their existing DGFT login credentials for access, eliminating the need to create new accounts for the new system.
The pilot phase of the Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu is scheduled to commence on November 04, 2025, primarily focusing on the onboarding of testing and inspection agencies. Following this, exporters and importers will be able to begin submitting their applications for product and commodity testing through the platform starting November 11, 2025. This staggered launch approach is intended to ensure a smooth transition.
The objective of the platform is to reduce delays, improve the traceability of test results, and enhance global confidence in the quality of Indiaβs manufactured and agricultural products by providing a reliable and accessible mechanism for quality infrastructure. During the initial pilot phase, existing physical processes will continue in parallel to ensure a smooth transition and refinement of the online system based on user feedback.
What is a βsingle-window platformβ in the context of trade facilitation?β A single-window platform is a digital trade mechanism that allows parties involved in trade and transport to submit standardized information and documents at a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements, thereby reducing complexity, time, and costs.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the government ensure rapid and universal onboarding of private and public accredited testing and inspection agencies onto the Lab Setu platform to maximize its coverage and operational efficiency?
Follow the full news here: https://www.dgft.gov.in/ (Look for Trade Notice No. 14/2025-26 dated 27/10/2025 in the Regulatory Updates section)