Pilot Launch of Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu - reg

Government of India
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade

Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Date: $27^{\text{th}}$ October 2025

Trade Notice No. 14/2025-26

To,

1. All Exporters/Members of Trade & Industry
2. All Export Promotion Councils / Trade and Industry Associations
3. All DGFT Regional Authorities

Subject: Pilot Launch of Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu – reg.

To strengthen India's trade facilitation ecosystem and ensure faster, transparent, and paperless certification for export and import commodities, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) proposes to initiate the pilot of Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu — a digital platform integrating testing and inspection agencies across the country under a single window. The system shall be accessible at https://trade.gov.in $\rightarrow$ LabSetu or directed at https://trade.gov.in/pages/labsetu

1.2. The initiative seeks to streamline the process of testing and certification by digitally connecting exporters, importers, and accredited testing and inspection agencies through a unified online interface. This shall reduce delays, improve traceability of test results, and enhance global trust in India's quality infrastructure. Through this functionality, exporters shall be able to seamlessly search, select, apply, track, and obtain digital test reports and certifications across product categories. The system has been designed to improve transparency, traceability and turnaround time, while also enhancing the visibility and accessibility of accredited testing and inspection agencies nationwide.

1.3. During the pilot phase, exporters or importers may continue to obtain test reports through the existing processes, in parallel with the LabSetu system, to ensure smooth transition and feedback-based refinement of this online system.

2. Key Dates for Implementation:

2.1. The pilot phase of Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu will commence on November 04, 2025, with the onboarding of testing and inspection agencies on the platform.

2.2. Exporters or importers will be able to submit applications for product and commodity testing through the platform starting November 11, 2025.

3. Specific Instructions for Attention of Applicants:

3.1. Login and Registration:

• a) The exporters' login credentials created on the DGFT website (https://dgft.gov.in) shall also work on Trade Connect ePlatform $\rightarrow$ Lab Setu. There is no need for the exporter to create new accounts on the new system. However, if any additional exporter accounts are required, the same may be created on the DGFT Website. All exporter accounts created on the DGFT Website shall be automatically synced with the Lab Setu user accounts.
• b) In case any exporters are not registered on DGFT Website, they would be required to register on DGFT Website and link their email to their IEC as per the defined processes. Please refer to the Application Help & FAQs section on DGFT Website $\rightarrow$ Learn (https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/?opt=application-help) for more details.
• c) Any updates to the exporter's basic details, such as registered address, branch details, and GSTIN, shall be made on https://dgft.gov.in by Modify Your IEC. The updated details will automatically populate on the new platform.

3.2. Submission of applications for testing or inspection:

• a) During this initial pilot phase, applications may be submitted only for export or import commodities where a test report or certificate is required at the port (e.g., for compliance or quality verification purposes). Use cases involving certificates issued post-shipment, such as Health Certificates, shall be incorporated in subsequent phases.
• b) Applicants may select multiple tests applicable to a product within a single application, choosing the desired branch of an onboarded laboratory or inspection agency listed on Lab Setu. List of labs with available tests will be present under Labsetu $\rightarrow$ View Labs and Tests.
• c) Applicants are required to enter product and sample details, upload sample images and supporting documents as prescribed by the selected testing and inspection agency.
• d) Applications must be digitally signed and submitted using either a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Aadhaar-based e-Sign. Applicants should ensure the same is registered on the portal prior to use under My Dashboard $\rightarrow$ View and Register Digital Signature Token.
• e) Payment of applicable test fees must be made online at the time of application submission. The fee amount is configurable and determined by the respective testing and inspection agency.
• f) Detailed guidance shall be available under Lab Setu $\rightarrow$ Help Manual for Applicants.

3.3. Tracking Application Status:

• a) Exporters can track the real-time status of their submitted applications through the "Track Application" feature available under the Lab Setu section after logging into the portal.
• b) Upon completion of testing, the digitally issued test certificate shall be available for download to the applicant through their Lab Setu dashboard.

4. Specific Instructions for Attention of Testing and Inspection Agencies

4.1. Onboarding of Testing and Inspection Agencies:

• a) Testing and inspection agencies owned or empaneled by Commodity Boards, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), or other government agencies and departments must be onboarded to the Lab Setu platform as a one-time activity.
• b) In the pilot phase, laboratories operated by the Tea Board, Coffee Board, and Rubber Board will be onboarded. The onboarding of additional laboratories — including those under other Commodity Boards, EPCs, and private sector labs — shall follow post go-live in the pilot phase itself. List of labs with available tests onboarded on the platform will be present under Labsetu $\rightarrow$ View Labs and Tests.
• c) Testing laboratories that do not have a Merchant ID and Checksum Key issued by PayGov are required to complete PayGov onboarding before registration on Lab Setu.
• d) Each onboarded laboratory will operate through a three-tier structure on Lab Setu comprising a Lab Administrator, Lab Branch Manager, and Lab Technician.
• e) Detailed guidance shall be available under Lab Setu $\rightarrow$ Help Manual for Testing and Inspection Agencies.
• f) Any queries / issues related to onboarding can be directed to labsetu-dgft@gov.in.

4.2. Registration for user roles within onboarded laboratory:

• a) All authorized onboarded laboratories are required to designate an administrator for online user management and branch management functionalities. The administrator shall register on the Trade Connect ePlatform by navigating to https://trade.gov.in $\rightarrow$ Register and select 'Register User As' - 'Testing and Inspection Agencies – Labsetu'. Then, select the lab and the role (Lab Administrator) and attach the authorisation letter. The administrator user shall attach the authorisation letter on the agency's letterhead along with their official email as recorded with DGFT.
• b) After successful activation of their account, the administrator shall add branch details by navigating to: My Dashboard $\rightarrow$ Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu $\rightarrow$ Lab Branch Management.
• c) The Administrator should ensure that the payment gateway parameters (Merchant ID and Checksum) are accurately mapped without any spaces or extra characters. Mistakes such as incorrect entries or leaving these fields blank may result in an error for applicants. It is essential to enter the Merchant ID and Checksum correctly and ensure these fields are not left empty.
• d) The Lab Administrator will be responsible for managing all subsequent user registrations under that laboratory through the User Management module, as well as for defining, managing, and mapping tests across relevant branches.
• e) Authorized representatives must register their Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) by navigating to My Dashboard $\rightarrow$ View and Register Digital Signature Token. This registration is mandatory to digitally sign and issue test reports through the Bharat Aayat Niryat Lab Setu module.
• f) Depending on the laboratory's structure — whether a standalone facility or a multibranch organization — the roles of Lab Administrator, Branch Manager, and Lab Technician may be assigned to the same or different representatives, as determined by the Lab Administrator. Lab representatives must use only their official email address for registration.