Policy Update
Varalika Raizada
Introduction
The trading industry and supply chain around the world is experiencing disruptions due to geopolitical conflicts and geoeconomic fragmentation. This has resulted in complicating the cross border transactions and trade procedures. To deal with these global changes, the government of India has taken a series of initiatives to boost trade and exports.
One such initiative is the Bharat Trade Net (BTN). Bharat Trade Net will act as a unified digital platform for keeping track of trade documentation and providing financing solutions for trading companies and enterprises. Bharat trade net, announced during the Union Budget 2025-26, is intended to help exporters, especially MSME’s through reduction in procedural hurdles, improving documentation processing and minimization of compliance delays. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), are the primary institutions responsible for implementation of the Bharat trade net. Currently, BTN is in its initial phase of development for countrywide implementation.
Background & Need
The Economic survey of India 2025 refers to exports as one of the most powerful engines that can boost India’s economic growth and highlights the importance of digital infrastructure for inclusive development. Recognising exports as the fourth engine of development, the government has proposed three major initiatives: export promotion mission, Bharat trade net and national framework for Global Capability Centres (GCC).
Proposal for export promotion mission and digital public infrastructure dpi aim to reduce trade-related costs and compliance burdens. The vision is to create an integrated ecosystem where independent service providers such as shipping lines, certifying agencies, banks, ports and customs authorities – are digitally connected through a unified platform. Before the launch of the Bharat Trade Net India’s trade and customs process were largely manual, fragmented and paper-intensive leading to inefficiencies, delays and higher transaction costs. The key challenges in the previous system included-
- Multiple departments and Processes: traders were required to deal with separate portals or physical offices of customs, DGFT, port authorities, shipping lines, banks and regulatory bodies. The absence of unified systems meant that businesses had to submit the same document repeatedly to multiple agencies
- Physical submission of Documents: The trade process relied heavily on the submission of physical documentation- including invoices, bills, and certificates which were prone to human errors, missing paperwork, and corruption due to lack of transparency.
- Physical inspections by officials: most cargoes underwent manual inspection and clearance. Limited use of risk-based assessment meant low-risk shipments could also face delays. Clearance time varied, increasing dwell time and logistics costs. Customs officials had to manually verify that items on the bill of entry matched the imported items.
- Absence of real-time tracking: exporters had minimal visibility into the status of their shipments and documentation. The absence of a centralized tracking system made it difficult to identify bottlenecks or plan logistics effectively.
- High procedure costs for MSMEs: the fragmented and complex system disproportionately impacted MSMEs which lacked the resources to navigate extensive compliance requirements. Frequent dependence on intermediaries and clearing agents further raised transaction costs and reduced transparency.
Customs and Trade Process Before Bharat Trade Net
Source: https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/CIEP.pdf
This shift in the mechanism of tracking trade documents was essential for leveling up India’s trade infrastructure and processes to match that of some of the world’s largest exporting countries. BTN will work in alignment with initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat to help make exports and imports faster, more efficient and globally competitive. This is to be done through elimination of paper-based procedures and connecting key stakeholders including DGFT, GSTN and banks and exporters into a single, unified digital platform.
Objectives
Bharat Trade Net is a vital step taken to modernize and digitalize India’s trade infrastructure for making global commerce accessible to all. The broader vision of BTN is to achieve a fully functional digitally empowered economy under the digital India mission. It reflects the intention of the government to boost logistical efficiency, improve ease of doing business and become more competitive with global trade.
Key objectives and benefits of BTN include-
- Facilitating Trade Procedure: streamlining digital international trade procedures by reducing time, administrative burden and costs. this centralized system allows businesses to manage all their trade related documents, reducing need for repetitive paperwork and minimizing errors.
- Single window clearance: through a unified digital platform, BTN simplifies interactions between various stakeholders in the trade ecosystem. This reduces operational redundancies, lowers transaction costs and boosts the presence of Bharatiya brand of Indian products in the global market.
- Simplifying Compliance: BTN simplifies legal and procedural compliance by standardizing processes. This reduces the workload of the administration, giving businesses the time to focus more on growth than in navigating complicated paperwork.
- Improvement in transparency of processes: BTN contributes to increasing visibility across the trade processes to ensure better coordination, remove possibility of corruption and increase trust among trading partners for smoother operation.
- Integration with Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP): BTN facilitates ease of doing business by complementing ULIP for logistics, trade, finance and documentation. This ensures better data accessibility and streamlined operations.
- Increasing competitiveness of export goods: BTN supports exporters, particularly MSME’s, to effectively engage with global commerce by leveling the playing field for participation in international trade.
- Supporting SME’s and MSME’s in scaling operations and aligning with the global standards.
Features & Benefits
- Single window interface: offers centralized access point for all trade related activities. It integrates multiple government departments. Approvals and permissions from various agencies are also granted digitally, reducing need for physical interaction.
- Digital documentation and e-filling: BTN facilitates end-to-end paperless trading by digitizing customs formats and processes, significantly reducing the chances of error, delays and duplication.
- Real-time data exchange: the platform ensures real-time integration and data sharing between key elements of the trade procedures such as ICEGATE (Indian customs EDI gateway), DGFT portal and GSTN for data sharing and verification
- Interoperability and API Integration: BTN design ensures seamless interoperability, offering integration through API’s (application programming interfaces) with platforms such as e-Sanchit, TReDS and ULIP, allowing automated and coordinated workflow.
- Cargo and shipment tracking: BTN enables real time tracking of status of consignments, movement of cargo, and clearance process. It also provides visibility into operation of ports and global supply chain.
- Secure and stable infrastructure: BTN is built on a robust and secure digital framework, BTN incorporates strong encryption protocols, role based access control and high system uptime, and scalability to match emerging technological advancements.
Way Forward
India must adopt a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes infrastructure, trust, and inclusivity in order to ensure the success of Bharat Trade Net. Multilingual support, digital literacy training, and carefully tailored onboarding assistance may help small exporters make the most of the platform.
Digital infrastructure must be strengthened at the same time, particularly in remote and rural export areas. Stable internet connectivity may be ensured through the use of Digital India Programme, increasing the viability of digital trade participation nationwide. Another crucial component is a grievance redressal and feedback process. Lastly, early adoption could be encouraged via incentive programs. With cooperation, Bharat Trade Net has the potential to be a pivotal element in India’s trade digitization, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness in global marketplaces.
References
- Lakshmishree Investment & Securities Ltd. (2025, February 1). Budget 2025: Government to launch Bharat Trade Net for International Trade – Lakshmishree News. Lakshmishree News. https://lakshmishree.com/news/budget-2025-government-to-launch-bharat-trade-net-for-international-trade/
- Budget 2025: Export promotion mission, Bharat Trade Net in works to boost trade. (2025, February 2). The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/budget-2025-export-promotion-mission-bharat-trade-net-in-works-to-boost-trade/articleshow/117849332.cms?from=mdr
- Khan, S. (2025, February 1). Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman announces Bharat Trade Net to streamline trade documentation and financing. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/trade/exports/insights/budget-2025-fm-sitharaman-announces-bharat-trade-net-to-streamline-trade-documentation-and-financing/articleshow/117820384.cms?from=mdr
- Business Standard. (n.d.). Business standard. www.business-standard.com. https://www.business-standard.com/budget/news/union-budget-2025-export-promotion-bharat-trade-net-manufacturing-growth-125020100817_1.html%20https://www.financialexpress.com/business/industry/new-agency-likely-to-run-bharattradenetnbsp/3738996/
- PRASADA, J. (2025). BHARAT TRADE NET AND EXPORT PROMOTION MISSION. In MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY. https://www.commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/LSUQ-No.-5048.pdf
- Import Export Company, Export & Import Clearing Agents | Star Group. (n.d.). Star Group. https://stargroup.in/understanding-bharat-trade-net-btn-simplifying-indias-international-trade-blog-details-31.html
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 01).HIGHLIGHTS OF UNION BUDGET 2025-26. Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2098353
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 01). BHARAT TRADE NET’ FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE TO BE SET-UP AS A UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR TRADE DOCUMENTATION AND FINANCING SOLUTIONS: UNION BUDGET 2025-26. Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2098387
About the contributor: Varalika Raizada is a Research intern at IMPRI.
Acknowledgement: The author extends her sincere gratitude to Aasthaba Jadeja and fellow interns, who provided guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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