What is Authorised Dealer Category-I?
Authorised Dealer Category-I, often shortened to AD Cat-I, is the class of entities the Reserve Bank of India authorises under FEMA to carry out the widest range of foreign-exchange business. In practice, this category is made up of banks: the major public sector, private and foreign banks operating in India. When export rules refer to an "AD bank", they mean an Authorised Dealer Category-I bank.
Why it matters for exporters
The 2026 export regulations place AD Category-I banks at the centre of services export reporting. They receive EDFs from service exporters outside SEZs, upload them into EDPMS within 5 working days, match incoming payments, close entries and, where justified, accept delayed EDFs or extend the realisation period. For software exporters, AD banks are now "specified authorities" on par with STPI, so STPI certification is no longer mandatory.
RBI's companion document, the Reserve Bank of India (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Directions, 2026, tells these banks how to handle export transactions. Each bank also publishes its own policy on accepting EDFs, which is why processes vary between banks. Start with the complete EDF guide and then confirm details with your branch.
Example
Meera Tutors Pvt Ltd banks with a small cooperative bank for local payments. Its foreign clients pay into an account at a large private bank. Only the private bank, being an AD Category-I bank, can process Meera's EDF and close its EDPMS entries, so that is where the company files.
Common confusion
Other authorised dealer categories exist, such as entities licensed for money changing, but they do not handle export reporting the way AD Category-I banks do. If you are unsure whether your bank qualifies, ask the branch directly. See also what is an AD bank.