DGFT Jan Sunwai: How Exporters Can Resolve DGFT Issues via Video Call (2026)

What is DGFT Jan Sunwai?

DGFT Jan Sunwai is an online platform of the Department of Commerce, run by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, for information, services and grievance redressal. It was launched on 13 September 2024 by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the 3rd Board of Trade meeting in Mumbai, alongside the ECGC ERP portal, as part of the 100-day agenda to reduce footfall at Commerce Ministry offices and move toward zero-interface (video conference) interaction.

In simple terms: instead of travelling to a DGFT Regional Authority or an allied board’s office, you book a video call with the officer who handles your issue and get the clarification or next step on screen.

Why was Jan Sunwai introduced?

DGFT introduced Jan Sunwai to give exporters a direct, transparent and auditable channel to officers — not just a file movement system. Before Jan Sunwai, an exporter in, say, Kanpur or Coimbatore might need to travel to the RA to get a file clarified. Jan Sunwai adds on-demand video conferencing plus fixed scheduled VC links for regular interactions, so issues are heard without a physical visit.

• Single transparent channel for trade and industry issues across DGFT and allied organisations.
• On-demand VC when you need it, plus fixed links for scheduled interactions.
• Coverage beyond DGFT alone — also Coffee Board, Rubber Board, APEDA, MPEDA, ITPO, Export Inspection Council and others under the Department of Commerce.
• Part of the move toward zero-interface services across the Commerce Ministry.

How does it help exporters and importers?

• You explain the issue face-to-face on video, share the file number, and get the officer’s next step — often faster than a chain of emails.
• You avoid travel to DGFT offices — particularly valuable for MSMEs located away from RA cities.
• You get a transparent record of the interaction — a VC link is more traceable than an informal visit.
• You can use it alongside the ticket system — raise a helpdesk ticket for a reference number and then discuss that ticket on Jan Sunwai.

What types of DGFT issues can it be useful for?

Jan Sunwai is for facilitation and grievance redressal where you would otherwise visit a DGFT office or an allied body. Examples (not an exhaustive list):

• IEC matters — new IEC, modification, or IEC-related clarification.
• Advance Authorisation, DFIA, EPCG, or RoDTEP/RoSCTL status where the file is pending or needs clarification.
• EOU / SEZ-related facilitation, import policy queries, or trade facilitation issues.
• Any DGFT service where the portal shows pending with RA and you need the officer to see the file while you explain.

How does the Jan Sunwai process work?

1. Go to the DGFT Citizen Charter page (dgft.gov.in/CP/?opt=citizencharter) and open the Jan Sunwai Facility entry.
2. Select the organisation that owns your issue — DGFT HQ, the specific RA, or an allied body (APEDA, etc.).
3. Choose on-demand video conference (request now) or join a fixed scheduled link for that organisation’s regular slot.
4. Enter your details — name, organisation, IEC, contact, and a concise description of the issue plus the relevant file/application number.
5. Join the VC at the allotted time, share your screen if needed, and note the officer’s guidance and any ticket or document to be filed after the call.
6. If the officer advises a ticket, raise it on the DGFT Helpdesk (dgft.gov.in/CP?opt=complaintssuggestion) — you will receive a reference number to track status — or use toll-free 1800-572-1550 / 1800-111-550 for helpdesk guidance.

The companion DGFT Helpdesk is a single-point ticket-based system for import or export issues concerning DGFT HQ or its Regional Authorities, with a feedback facility if you are not satisfied with the resolution.

How to prepare before approaching Jan Sunwai

• Write a one-paragraph issue summary: what you applied for, when, the file/application number, what the portal shows, and the specific relief you seek.
• List what you have already done — ticket number, prior RA email, or visiting card of the dealing hand — so the officer does not start from zero.
• Keep your ask specific: “clarify the deficiency reason” or “confirm next document for Advance Authorisation amendment” beats “my file is pending.”
• Test your video/audio and keep a second device ready to share a screenshot of the portal status if screen-share is not allowed.

What documents and details should you keep ready?

Does Jan Sunwai replace the normal DGFT grievance process?

No — it complements it. The normal DGFT Helpdesk (ticket-based, with reference number and status tracking, plus toll-free 1800-572-1550 / 1800-111-550) continues. Jan Sunwai adds a live video interface for zero-interface interaction. For many exporter issues, the best combination is: raise a helpdesk ticket for a reference number, then book a Jan Sunwai VC to discuss that ticket with the dealing officer.

Practical examples — when an exporter could use Jan Sunwai

• You filed an Advance Authorisation amendment and the portal shows “pending with RA” for two weeks — book an on-demand VC, share the file number, and ask for the specific deficiency to be clarified.
• Your IEC modification is pending and the next export is held up because the shipping bill cannot be filed — use Jan Sunwai to get the RA to see the file while you are on the call and tell you the exact document to correct.
• A RoDTEP scrip or EPCG authorisation shows a deficiency that is unclear from the portal remark — the VC lets you ask the dealing hand what the remark means and how to cure it.
• You are an MSME in a non-metro location and cannot travel to the RA for a five-minute clarification — a scheduled Jan Sunwai link is the scheduled alternative to a physical visit.

Why this facility is particularly useful for MSMEs and exporters away from DGFT offices

Before Jan Sunwai, a small exporter might need to take a day off, travel to the RA city, and wait for the dealing hand. With on-demand video conferencing across DGFT and allied organisations, the same clarification can happen from the factory office — with the IEC and file open on screen. That is the core MSME benefit: zero travel for a clarification that unlocks the next shipment.

Key takeaway for exporters

If a DGFT file — IEC, Advance Authorisation, EPCG, or an incentive scrip — is pending and the portal remark is unclear, raise a helpdesk ticket for a reference number and then book a Jan Sunwai video call for that organisation. Keep the IEC, file number and a one-page issue summary ready, note the officer’s next step on the call, and file the advised document. Jan Sunwai is the video door to the officer; the ticket is the paper trail that keeps the request trackable.

Frequently asked questions