India
IN · IND
As of: 7/18/2026
Wachstumsmarkt / Produktions-, Pharma- und IT-Hub Südasiens
Capital: New Delhi
Südasien; SAFTA; WTO-MitgliedSeefrachtLuftfrachtStrasseSchieneBinnenschifffahrtImport VAT: IGST auf Importe seit 22.9.2025 meist 5 oder 18 Prozent (Luxus/Sin 40 Prozent), auf Zollwert plus ZollCustoms: hochRisk: mittelPharma/Cold Chain: hochDangerous Goods: hochE-Commerce: hoch
Overview
India (ISO code: IN) lies in South Asia and borders Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, with coastlines on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is a federal parliamentary republic and one of the world's largest economies, strong in manufacturing, services, agriculture and information technology. The climate ranges from tropical in the south to temperate in the north and alpine in the Himalayas, shaped by pronounced monsoon seasons. Foreign trade is central: major ports such as Mundra and Nhava Sheva (JNPA), a dense rail and road network and busy cargo airports like Delhi and Mumbai underpin its transit and logistics role. Customs clearance is handled electronically through ICEGATE under the CBIC. Since the GST reform of 22 September 2025, import IGST is mostly 5 or 18 percent (40 percent on luxury and sin goods), in addition to basic customs duty and a 10 percent social welfare surcharge. India has an expanding network of trade agreements, including the EFTA TEPA in force since 1 October 2025. The currency is the Indian rupee (INR).
Mentioned countries
Area3,287,259 km²
Population1,450,935,791
CurrencyIndian Rupee (INR)
Economic areaSüdasien; SAFTA; WTO-Mitglied
ContinentAsia
ReligionsHinduismus, Islam, Christentum, Sikhismus, Buddhismus
ISO codeIN / IND
Customs & Import/Export
Customs authority
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)Import system
Elektronische Abfertigung über ICEGATE/ICES mit Single-Window SWIFT; Einfuhr per Bill of Entry, risikobasierte Prüfung (RMS).
Export system
Elektronische Ausfuhr über ICEGATE/ICES; Shipping Bill als Ausfuhranmeldung, Single-Window SWIFT, RoDTEP-Erstattung.
Import VAT
- IGST auf Importe seit 22.9.2025 meist 5 oder 18 Prozent (Luxus/Sin 40 Prozent), auf Zollwert plus Zoll
- dazu Basiszoll (BCD) plus 10 Prozent Social Welfare Surcharge.
Customs complexityhoch
Import documents
- Bill of Entry
- Handelsrechnung
- Packliste
- Konnossement / Luftfrachtbrief
- Ursprungszeugnis
- IEC-Nummer
Export documents
- Shipping Bill
- Handelsrechnung
- Packliste
- Konnossement / Luftfrachtbrief
- Ursprungszeugnis (FTA)
- IEC-Nummer
- LUT / GST-Nachweis
Origin proofs / FTA
Präferenznachweise je Abkommen: EUR.1/Ursprungserklärung (EFTA-TEPA seit 1.10.2025), CoO Form für UAE-CEPA, Australien-ECTA, ASEAN, Japan- und Korea-CEPA; teils Selbstzertifizierung.
Restricted & prohibited goods
Einfuhrbeschränkungen u.a. bestimmte Tier-/Pflanzenprodukte, Gold-/Devisenregeln, Altwaren und Gebrauchtmaschinen, gefährliche Abfälle; Lizenzpflichten laut DGFT ITC(HS)-Politik.
Export controls & sanctions
Exportkontrolle über die SCOMET-Liste der DGFT (Dual-Use), angelehnt an NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar und Australia Group; neue Kategorie 7 (Emerging Tech) seit 23.9.2025.
Without warranty — always verify with freight forwarder/customs agent and official authorities.
Customs / Import / Export (India) — General process
Quick operational overview for shipments to India. Depending on goods, additional permits/standards may apply; add buffer time and keep documents and values consistent.
Documents (typical)
Process (simplified)
- Prepare export (clean data, HS code, values)
- Import clearance often via broker/agent; possible inspections
- Release, duties/taxes, and delivery
Common pitfalls
- Missing certificates/product requirements → delays
- Misaligned HS code/classification → cost risk
- Inconsistent values/documents → queries
Important: Requirements depend on goods, origin, Incoterms, value, and consignee. When in doubt, confirm with your broker/forwarder and official sources.
Official links
Trade
Freight Infrastructure & Transport Network
Transport relevance
Air
highSea
highRoad
highRail
highInland Waterway
mediumCargo airports
- Delhi (DEL)
- Mumbai (BOM)
- Bengaluru (BLR)
- Chennai (MAA)
- Hyderabad (HYD)
- Kolkata (CCU)
Seaports / access ports
- Mundra (Adani, groesster Hafen nach Umschlag)
- Nhava Sheva / JNPA (groesster Containerhafen)
- Chennai
- Visakhapatnam
- Deendayal / Kandla
- Paradip
- Kolkata / Haldia
- Cochin
- Tuticorin (V.O. Chidambaranar)
Inland ports & terminals
- ICD Tughlakabad (Delhi)
- ICD Dadri / Greater Noida
- ICD Whitefield (Bengaluru)
- ICD Ludhiana
Road corridors & border crossings
- Golden Quadrilateral
- North-South- und East-West-Korridor
- Delhi - Mumbai Expressway
Rail corridors
- Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)
- Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
- Delhi - Mumbai
- Delhi - Kolkata (Howrah)
Top trade lanes
- Indien - USA
- Indien - VAE
- Indien - China
- Indien - EU
- Indien - ASEAN
Risk & Operational Notes
Logistics riskmittel
Customs delay riskmittel bis hoch
Port congestion riskmittel
Risk notes
Hoher Dokumentenaufwand und Bürokratie, regionale Infrastrukturunterschiede, Hafen- und Strassenstaus in Ballungsräumen; Grenzspannungen mit Pakistan und China.
Seasonal & weather risks
Südwestmonsun Juni bis September (Überschwemmungen, Strassensperren), Zyklonsaison an Ost- und Westküste, Hitzewellen im Vorsommer.
Current logistics notes
GST-Reform (GST 2.0) seit 22.9.2025 mit zwei Hauptsätzen (5/18 Prozent) plus 40-Prozent-Sondersatz weiterhin in Kraft; EFTA-TEPA seit 1.10.2025 in Kraft (auch für die Schweiz); starker Ausbau von Häfen und Frachtkorridoren (DFC). Keine landesweite Störung verifiziert (Stand 2026-07-18).
As of: 2026-07-18
Operational notes – no claim to completeness. Verify with your freight forwarder and official sources.
Public holidays
As of: Jul 18, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type | Customs closed | Transport affected | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | Republic Day | National | |||
| Aug 15, 2026 | Independence Day | National | |||
| Oct 2, 2026 | Gandhi Jayanti | National | |||
| Nov 8, 2026 | Diwali (Deepavali) | National | India's most important festival; a multi-day slowdown of production, transport and customs around the date. The exact date shifts yearly with the lunar calendar. |
Republic Day
Jan 26, 2026
Customs closedTransport affected
Independence Day
Aug 15, 2026
Customs closedTransport affected
Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 2, 2026
Customs closedTransport affected
Diwali (Deepavali)
Nov 8, 2026
Customs closedTransport affected
India's most important festival; a multi-day slowdown of production, transport and customs around the date. The exact date shifts yearly with the lunar calendar.
Sources: Gazetted Holidays India / timeanddate · Gazetted Holidays India / timeanddate
Tolls & charges
As of: Jul 18, 2026
National Highway Tolls (FASTag)
TollOperator: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Registration requiredOBU required
car, truck, articulated, bus
Tolls on national highways at toll plazas, levied by the NHAI. Payment is exclusively electronic via the RFID-based FASTag system (mandatory for all vehicles). Rates depend on vehicle class and highway section.
Airports in this country
Chennai International Airport
MAA · Chennai
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
BOM · Mumbai
Cochin International Airport
COK · Kochi
Dabolim Airport
GOI · Vasco da Gama
Indira Gandhi International Airport
DEL · New Delhi
Kempegowda International Airport
BLR · Bangalore
Manohar International Airport
GOX · Mopa
Navi Mumbai International Airport
NMI · Navi Mumbai
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport
CCU · Kolkata
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
HYD · Hyderabad
Rajkot International Airport
HSR · Rajkot
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
TRV · Thiruvananthapuram
Seaports in this country
Calcutta
IN CCU · Large
Chennai (Madras)
IN MAA · Large
Dahej
IN DAH · Large
Dhamra
INDMQ · Large
Gangavaram
INGGV · Large
Kamarajar Port
INENR · Large
Kattupalli Port
Large
Krishnapatnam
INKRI · Large
Mumbai (Bombay)
IN BOM · Large
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Shiva)
IN NSA · Medium
Kochi (Cochin)
IN KOC · Medium
New Mangalore
IN NML · Medium
Popular Transit Time Routes
Latest News
More content for this country
As content becomes available, additional information and articles will automatically appear here.
Sources & Data Confidence
hochVerified: 2026-07-18
Official sources
- cbic.gov.in
- icegate.gov.in
- dgft.gov.in
- pib.gov.in
Source references without warranty. For legal/tax decisions consult official authorities.
FAQ
How high is import VAT (IGST) in India?
Since the GST reform of 22 September 2025 there are two main rates of 5 and 18 percent, plus a special 40 percent rate for luxury and sin goods. Import IGST is levied on the customs value plus basic customs duty (BCD) and the social welfare surcharge, and is creditable as input tax.
How does customs clearance work in India?
Clearance is electronic via ICEGATE/ICES of the customs authority CBIC, using the SWIFT single window. Importers file a Bill of Entry, exporters a Shipping Bill; a risk management system (RMS) determines inspections.
What benefits does the EFTA agreement TEPA bring for Swiss exporters?
The agreement between India and EFTA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) entered into force on 1 October 2025. India is removing tariffs on most industrial goods; Swiss exporters benefit from preferences with proof of origin (EUR.1 or origin declaration).
How is export control for dual-use goods regulated?
The relevant list is the DGFT's SCOMET list (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies), aligned with NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar and the Australia Group. Since 23 September 2025 there is a new Category 7 for emerging technologies; a per-shipment licence may be required.
What are India's most important seaports?
Mundra (Adani) is the largest port by throughput, Nhava Sheva / JNPA the largest container port (about 7.9 million TEU in 2025). Other key ports are Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Deendayal/Kandla, Paradip and Kolkata/Haldia.
Which airports matter most for air cargo?
Delhi (DEL) is the largest cargo airport with about 1.1 million tonnes, followed by Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA) and Hyderabad (HYD). These four to five hubs handle most air cargo.
What seasonal risks affect logistics?
The southwest monsoon from June to September can cause flooding and road closures. Both the east and west coasts face cyclone risk, and heatwaves occur in the pre-monsoon months.
Which trade partners are important for India?
Which logistics terms are especially relevant for India?
For international shipments, these terms are a good quick start:
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