- Why in news
- On 15 January 2026, DGFT, with MEA and FIEO, held the National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls 2026 in New Delhi and released the third edition of the Handbook on India's Strategic Trade Control System.
- What it is
- SCOMET stands for Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies. It is India's list of dual-use and sensitive items whose export needs authorisation. DGFT licenses these exports under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, to meet non-proliferation commitments.
- Organisers
- DGFT organised the conference with MEA and FIEO, along with other government partners and industry.
- Handbook
- The third edition of the Handbook on India's Strategic Trade Control System was released. DGFT prepared it with the D&ISA Division of MEA.
- Scope of SCOMET
- The conference covered export of dual-use and sensitive goods, technologies, software, materials and equipment regulated under SCOMET.
- Compliance tools
- Sessions covered the Authorised Economic Operator programme and Intangible Technology Transfer.
- Legal basis
- SCOMET controls are issued by DGFT under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and sit in Appendix 3 of ITC (HS) Schedule 2.
Don’t confuse with SCOMET vs export-import policy generally: SCOMET covers only dual-use and sensitive items needing authorisation, not ordinary export restrictions.
Don’t confuse with DGFT vs CBIC: DGFT issues SCOMET licences; CBIC (customs) enforces at the border.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Balances national security and non-proliferation with trade in advanced technologies.
- Helps India meet its non-proliferation commitments and supports its bid for export-control regime membership.
Problems
- Industry and academia may lack awareness of compliance duties, especially for intangible technology transfer.
- Fast-changing technologies such as quantum and advanced computing make control lists hard to keep current.
Way forward
- Keep updating the SCOMET List and run outreach to exporters, researchers and start-ups.
- Strengthen licensing, enforcement and coordination among DGFT, MEA and customs.
Put in your answer
NCSTC 2026: A recent example of outreach on strategic trade controls covering semiconductors, quantum items and space technologies.
- 2026Mains GS4 · Q12Handling foreign sales requests for missiles and artillery under production constraints.
- 2022Prelims Q28Monazite's rare earth source, thorium content, and government-only processing/export rules
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting export control topic; international bodies and regimes are 19% of Prelims questions, but this release has few facts to test.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.