Guidebook Maps 12,167 HSN Codes to Boost Indian Manufacturing
22 Sep 2025 CW Team
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, released the Guidebook on Mapping of Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes, prepared by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), on 20 September 2025 during the “Celebrating 10 Years of Make in India and Discussion on Next Gen-Reforms 2.0” event in New Delhi. The Guidebook allocates 12,167 HSN Codes to 31 Ministries and Departments, promoting a data-driven approach for manufacturing development, investment facilitation, and trade promotion, thereby supporting a resilient and competitive industrial ecosystem.
Shri Goyal highlighted that the Guidebook strengthens domestic production capacity, fosters sectoral growth, and facilitates effective trade agreement negotiations aligned with India’s economic priorities. By clearly identifying the responsible Ministry or Department for each HSN Code, the initiative streamlines regulatory processes and enhances ease of doing business. It is envisioned to play a key role in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Guidebook emerged to address challenges in trade negotiations, import substitution, and industry grievance redressal caused by unclear HSN Code ownership. DPIIT undertook a comprehensive value-chain and use-case analysis for all 12,167 codes sourced from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Tariff Manual. A review of the Allocation of Business (AoB) Rules, 1961, followed, alongside extensive consultations: inter-ministerial meetings, Joint Working Group sessions, over 300 one-on-one meetings with ministries, and industry stakeholder discussions. Feedback was systematically analysed to ensure the mapping reflected ground realities.
The result is a definitive allocation of 12,167 HSN Codes across 31 Ministries and Departments, providing a foundational tool for advancing manufacturing and trade objectives. The Guidebook includes a dedicated “How to Use the Guidebook?” section, structured around three operational pillars:
- Manufacture in India: Positions India as a global manufacturing hub through sector-specific policy alignment, value chain development, and workforce enhancement.
- Strengthen Brand India: Elevates the global perception of the ‘Made in India’ label by prioritising quality and competitiveness.
- Make for the World: Supports trade negotiations to expand the global market share of Indian products.
In conclusion, the Guidebook is more than a classification tool; it is a strategic instrument enabling Ministries and Departments to adopt an outcome-oriented approach to industrial growth. By streamlining custodianship of products and aligning policy, investment, and trade, it lays the foundation for India to emerge as a global manufacturing leader and a robust, future-ready economy by 2047.