RCMC: choosing your council, registering and renewing

This guide is for exporters who need a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC), usually because they want a DGFT scheme or council support. It explains which body to join, how to apply on the DGFT portal, and how to keep the certificate valid.

What an RCMC is and why it matters

An RCMC is proof that you are registered with an export promotion council (EPC), a commodity board or development authority, or the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). It is not a licence to export: your IEC does that. But under the Foreign Trade Policy you need a valid RCMC to apply for most DGFT authorisations and benefits, including:

• Advance Authorisation and EPCG authorisations, and most other applications to DGFT for FTP benefits;
• support for trade fairs and buyer-seller meets organised through councils, now given as Market Access Support under the Export Promotion Mission.

Councils also give practical help: market information, buyer enquiries, help with trade disputes and, at some councils, certificates of origin. A scheme notification will say if it needs an RCMC, so check the notification for any scheme you plan to use.

Choosing the right council

Register with the council that covers your main product. If your products fall under several councils, or no council covers them, FIEO registers multi-product exporters. Where a benefit is linked to a specific product, the authority may ask for the RCMC of the council that covers that product, so some exporters hold more than one.

If you export	Typical registering body
Engineering goods	EEPC India
Cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups	TEXPROCIL
Readymade garments	Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC)
Pharmaceuticals	Pharmexcil
Plastics	PLEXCONCIL
Gems and jewellery	GJEPC
Leather and leather products	Council for Leather Exports
Products scheduled to APEDA (fruit, vegetables, processed food, rice and others)	APEDA
Marine products	MPEDA
Spices, tea, coffee, rubber, tobacco	The commodity board for that product
Services	Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC)
Several product groups, or none of the above	FIEO

This list is not complete. The DGFT portal shows every registering authority when you apply, and the council's own website lists the products it covers. If you are unsure, ask the council before paying the fee.

Applying for an e-RCMC on the DGFT portal

RCMCs are issued online through the e-RCMC service on the DGFT common digital platform, introduced by DGFT Trade Notice 27/2021-22 in December 2021.

1. Make sure your IEC is active and its annual update is done, because the application pulls your details from the IEC profile.
2. Log in to the DGFT portal with your IEC and go to Services, then e-RCMC, then apply for an RCMC.
3. Choose the council or board and its office, and enter your products, target countries, contact persons and firm profile. You will also state whether you are a manufacturer exporter or a merchant exporter.
4. Upload the documents your chosen council asks for. These differ by council, so check its website first.
5. Accept the declarations and sign with your digital signature certificate or Aadhaar e-sign.
6. Pay the membership fee. Fees are set by each council and often depend on your size or export turnover.
7. The council examines the application and issues the e-RCMC, which you can view and download on the DGFT portal.

Validity, renewal and amendment

An RCMC is deemed valid from 1 April of the licensing year in which it is issued and runs for five financial years, ending on 31 March. Use the renewal option under e-RCMC; your previous details are pre-filled and you pay the council's renewal fee. Many councils also charge an annual subscription during the five years, so check what yours requires to keep membership in good standing.

If your firm's name, address, constitution or ownership changes, tell the council within one month through the amendment option under e-RCMC, after you have updated the IEC. An RCMC whose details do not match your IEC can hold up a scheme application.

Councils may also ask you to report your exports periodically. File them on time and check your council's rules on what happens if you do not.

Common mistakes

• Joining a council that does not cover your main product, then finding it cannot support a product-specific application.
• Letting the RCMC lapse on 31 March just before you file an Advance Authorisation or EPCG application.
• Trying to apply or renew while the IEC is deactivated for a missed annual update.
• Changing the address on the IEC but not on the RCMC.
• Assuming the RCMC lets you export restricted items. It does not; you still need the export authorisation required by the ITC(HS) policy.

Related on Exportsmitra

• IEC: getting, updating and keeping your Importer Exporter Code active
• Advance Authorisation: importing inputs duty-free for exports
• EPCG: importing capital goods at zero duty against an export obligation
• Trade fairs and buyer-seller meets: finding buyers and government support
• Policies and licences tracker with renewal reminders (members)

Sources

• Directorate General of Foreign Trade: common digital platform (e-RCMC)
• DGFT: Foreign Trade Policy 2023 and Handbook of Procedures
• DGFT e-RCMC customer portal user help file v2.0 (hosted by Pharmexcil)
• Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)

Last checked 1 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with your export promotion council or DGFT before you act.