Q.The Import Export Code (IEC) required for foreign trade is issued by the ____.

The IEC is a foreign-trade registration, and foreign trade policy in India is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce. That is the authority that issues the code.

The RBI regulates foreign exchange and customs collects duty, but the code that legally permits export/import is a DGFT registration.

The IEC is the fundamental registration without which no person can legally export or import, so the correct issuing authority must be the body that administers foreign trade policy. Evaluating the options:

(A) Reserve Bank of India — incorrect; the RBI regulates foreign exchange and authorises dealer banks under FEMA, but it does not issue the IEC.

(B) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) — correct; the DGFT, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce, administers foreign trade policy and issues the 10-digit IEC.

(C) Customs Department — incorrect; customs clears goods and levies duty at the port, but does not issue the IEC.

(D) Export Promotion Council — incorrect; a council issues the RCMC (membership certificate), not the IEC.

Students often confuse the DGFT (issues the IEC) with the RBI (regulates foreign exchange) or with the Export Promotion Council (issues the RCMC). Remember the pairing: IEC → DGFT; RCMC → Export Promotion Council; foreign exchange → RBI/AD bank.