The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on August 19, 2026, issued the Draft Warehouse Licensing Regulations, 2026, seeking comments and suggestions on the regulations within 15 days.
The following has been stated:
It has introduced the Warehouse Licensing Regulations, 2026, superseding the Public, Private and Special Warehouse Licensing Regulations, 2016. The regulations provide a unified framework for licensing of public, private and special warehouses, with applications to be submitted electronically through the ICEGATE portal.
Applicants must satisfy prescribed eligibility, security, safety, digital inventory, and statutory compliance requirements, along with furnishing a recent solvency certificate and audited financial statements/business plan.
The licensing authority may grant the licence within 30 days, with the overall disposal period capped at 45 days where clarifications are required. Licensees are required to maintain digital inventory records, conduct quarterly stock verification and obtain an annual CA audit of inventory and accounting records.
The regulations also provide for co-storage of certain liquid bulk cargo, amendment and transfer of licences upon business reorganisation, voluntary surrender, and suspension/cancellation for specified non-compliances. Existing licences issued under the 2016 regulations will continue, subject to compliance with the new requirements within three months of commencement.
Please refer to the document attached below for more details.
