Export obligation discharge certificates drive extended to clear old Advance Authorisation and EPCG pending cases
Special drive for expeditious issuance of Export Obligation Discharge Certificates under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes has been extended from 1 April 2026 to 31 May 2026. The extended drive prioritises older pending applications, long-deficient cases, and matters delayed for want of complete documents or clarification from authorisation holders. Trade and authorisation holders are advised to furnish outstanding documents promptly and respond within prescribed timelines. Regional Authorities must adopt an age-wise pendency clearance strategy.

Policy relaxation for gem and jewellery exports extends compliance periods automatically without application or fee requirements.
One-time policy relaxation has been granted for the Gem and Jewellery sector under Chapter 4 of FTP 2023 by amending the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. Specified export, re-export and re-import periods expiring during the stated window stand automatically extended from the date of expiry. No separate application, composition fee, amendment or endorsement is required, and customs authorities are to permit the relevant export or import activity subject to verification of the relevant particulars.

TRQ authorisation validity extension for gold imports under India-UAE CEPA continues automatically without separate application or fee.
TRQ Authorisations issued in financial year 2025-26 for import of gold under the India-UAE CEPA and classified under CTH 7108 are automatically extended from 31.03.2026 to 30.06.2026. No separate application, composition fee, amendment or endorsement is required to avail the extended validity, and the authorisations continue to operate up to the extended date without additional procedural action.

Interest subvention eligibility clarified: UIN generation and non-portability govern admissibility, claim process, and bank reporting.
Interest subvention is payable only for export credit disbursed on or after scheme commencement and at the rate prevailing on disbursal; subvention ceases from the date an account becomes an NPA and applies only for the actual outstanding period in case of early foreclosure. A UIN must be generated on or before loan disbursal and is non-portable; change of bank requires a new UIN. Where multiple banks provide credit, the exporter is solely responsible for ensuring aggregate claims remain within the annual ceiling. Banks must register online, submit claims mapped to borrower UINs, and verify IEC status.

Amendment to Standard Input Output Norms adjusts input quantity requirements for Phenoxyethanol exports, effective immediately.
Amendment to SION A-2005 revises the export product entry to Phenoxyethanol (preservative grade) and adjusts permitted input quantities for the associated import items at Sl. No. 2; Phenol remains unchanged while Ethylene Oxide is marginally reduced. The amendment is issued under the Foreign Trade Policy-2023 and takes immediate effect.

Risk-sharing support expands MSME access to export finance for under-served markets via Exim Bank-backed guarantees.
Government launches EPM NIRYAT PROTSAHAN to provide risk-sharing support for eligible MSME export transactions to under-served markets via Exim Bank and NCGTC. Support covers specified non recourse trade finance instruments (SBLC, RP, IRU, LC confirmation/negotiation, UPAS LC). MSMEs generate a UIN on the DGFT portal and apply through partner banks that sign MRPA/CBA with Exim Bank. Risk coverage is allocated by a comprehensive score model (10%-80% guarantee to the Trust; Exim Bank/partner bank covers the balance), subject to MLP and country/exporter/transaction/issuer caps; claims are settled by Exim Bank and reimbursed by the Trust.

Credit assistance for e commerce exporters expands guarantee cover and interest relief to eligible MSMEs to boost cross border e commerce financing.
Pilot Credit Assistance for E Commerce Exporters provides credit guarantee cover and interest subvention for Cash Credit, Overdraft and other working capital facilities to eligible MSMEs engaged in cross border e commerce. Implemented through Exim Bank and NCGTC with a dedicated trust, the scheme sets eligibility (IEC and Udyam registration, export track record or inventory in recognised hubs/overseas warehouses), distinct Direct and Overseas Inventory facilities with prescribed ceilings, guarantee coverage, tenure and fees, an online UIN based application process, claim invocation timelines, and governance by a Sub Committee on Trade Finance.

Export Obligation extension automatically extends specified Advance and EPCG authorisations' EO period without composition fee.
Export Obligation periods for specified Advance Authorisations and EPCG Authorisations whose original or extended EO or block-wise EO periods expire within the identified expiry window are automatically extended until 31.08.2026 without requirement of application, endorsement, amendment, or payment of composition fee; this extension is additional to existing HBP extension facilities, previously paid composition fees are not refundable, customs shall allow exports accordingly, and Regional Authorities will examine EO compliance at EODC issuance, closure, or regularisation.

Supply chain resilience group operationalised to monitor disruptions and coordinate mitigation with stakeholders and agencies.
Operationalisation of Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Supply Chain Resilience establishes a Department of Commerce coordination mechanism to monitor global developments affecting supply chains, assess sector-wise export and critical import vulnerabilities, facilitate inter-ministerial coordination, engage stakeholders including Export Promotion Councils, recommend mitigation measures, and receive reports of specific disruptions through a designated DGFT email for consolidation and monitoring.

Average Export Obligation reduction for EPCG authorizations where sector exports declined; regional offices to re-fix and endorse.
Regional Authorities must re-fix the Annual Average Export Obligation for EPCG authorisations for 2024-25 proportionate to sectoral export declines identified in the annexed table, endorse any EO reduction in the licence file and issue amendment sheets to authorisation holders. While considering EO discharge requests, Regional Offices must apply prior policy circulars before issuing demand notices or EODC, and include this stipulation in the EODC check-sheet.

Tariff Rate Quota deadline extended - TRQ applications for specified FTAs must be filed by the revised deadline.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade extends the last date for submission of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) applications for specified products under multiple FTAs/PTAs notified in Appendix 2A of the FTP, 2023 to 15.03.2026 for FY 2026 27. The extension covers TRQs under India-Sri Lanka, India-Mercosur, India-Mauritius CECPA, India-Nepal Treaty and India-UAE CEPA with specified tariff lines and aggregate quantities. Imports under each TRQ are subject to the procedural arrangements and eligibility conditions set forth in the respective Annexures of Appendix 2A, and all other Appendix 2A terms remain applicable.

Export authorization procedures for wheat: monthly online applications, non-transferable short-term permits, and EFC-based allocation with documentation requirements.
Applicants with active Importer Exporter Code must apply online through the DGFT portal during the first ten days of each month while the notified national quantity remains available. Applications must include past export performance, confirmed export contracts/orders and a chartered accountant certificate of five year export turnover. Export Authorizations are non transferable and valid for a limited period, with extensions considered by the Special Exim Facilitation Committee. Allocation and reallocation of quantities are recommended by the Special EFC based on prior export history or confirmed orders; disqualified applications include those below minimum shipment size, submitted outside the portal or window, or containing misdeclaration.

Export authorization for wheat flour via DGFT online window; allocations depend on export history and confirmed orders.
Notification prescribes online application requirements and supporting documents for export authorizations of wheat flour under HS Code 1101, requires an active Importer Exporter Code, mandates a CA-certified five-year turnover certificate and a domestic-wheat self-declaration, sets six-month non-transferable validity subject to discretionary extension by the Special Exim Facilitation Committee, directs allocation and re-allocation by the Special EFC based on export history or confirmed orders with a portion reserved for State Trading Enterprises and cooperatives, disqualifies applications below the minimum quantity or outside the portal/window or with misdeclarations, and requires landing certificates within thirty days of export.

Freight reimbursement support for hinterland MSMEs mitigates locational logistics disadvantage via online intent-and-claim reimbursement process.
A pilot LIFT scheme under the Export Promotion Mission provides partial reimbursement of eligible freight for MSME exports from specified hinterland districts, subject to IEC and Udyam eligibility, listed products and districts, distance criteria, a uniform reimbursement rate applied against a capped freight value relative to FOB, annual ceilings per IEC, exclusions for deemed exports and SEZs, and prospective application. A two stage online Intent to Claim and Reimbursement Claim process with documentary evidence and quarterly filing with jurisdictional DGFT enables direct bank disbursement; a DGFT sub committee will advise on eligible districts, products, rates and monitoring.

Facilitating Logistics, Overseas Warehousing and Fulfilment enables subsidised support for overseas storage and distribution to eligible Indian entities.
FLOW is a pilot intervention under EPM-NIRYAT DISHA to support overseas storage, distribution, display and fulfilment arrangements for Indian MSMEs. Assistance is limited to lease/rental, common facility and operational expenses (excluding capital expenditure), available to Indian-incorporated eligible entities under prescribed conditions. Projects must meet reporting, utilisation certificate and monitoring requirements; funds are released in instalments against milestones, and advances are refundable with interest if objectives are unmet. Approved projects must include sustainability, due diligence, and compliance with host-country approvals, with governance by a DGFT Sub-Committee and operationalisation by the EPM Section, DGFT(HQ).

Trade intelligence support launched under EPM to bolster exporter capacity, digital trade tools, and non financial assistance frameworks.
Launches the INSIGHT intervention under EPM - NIRYAT DISHA to provide non financial support for exporter preparedness through four sub areas: Export Capacity Building, District/Cluster Export Facilitation, Trade Intelligence and Analytics, and Research/Pilot Interventions. Eligible government bodies, recognised institutions and recommended organisations may apply via prescribed formats; assistance is limited to project specific operational costs (excluding physical infrastructure) and ordinarily provided on a cost sharing basis with specified ceilings and exemptions for government entities. Outputs are to be disseminated via Government platforms; IP and funding, disbursement, monitoring, compliance and sanctions are governed by detailed annexures and a Sub Committee oversight mechanism.

Compliance reimbursement scheme TRACE enables partial support to MSMEs for conformity assessment costs to secure market access.
TRACE is a prospective pilot reimbursement initiative under the Export Promotion Mission to partially reimburse eligible MSMEs for costs of testing, inspection, certification, audits and traceability systems required for market access or to demonstrate compliance with internationally recognised standards. Eligibility requires an active IEC (not on the Denied Entity List) and MSME Udyam Registration; support is available only for activities undertaken on or after the commencement date and follows a two stage online Intent to Claim and Reimbursement Claim process with post disbursement verification.

Export factoring support: interest subvention for eligible MSME exports to improve access to alternative trade finance.
The intervention provides prospective pilot interest subvention support to eligible MSMEs for export factoring (recourse and non-recourse) arranged with RBI/IFSCA-regulated entities, restricted to exports under a notified HS six-digit positive list; claims are submitted online IEC-wise, disbursed to the IEC-linked bank account upon verification, and governed by specified ceilings, periodic reviews of subvention rates and reporting, with a Sub-Committee and EPM (DGFT) responsible for operationalisation.

GIA Laboratory in Dubai: suffix changed from DMCC to FZCO, effective immediately under Foreign Trade Policy authority.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amends the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 by replacing the suffix "DMCC" with "FZCO" for the GIA laboratory in Dubai, updating its recorded corporate designation; this administrative correction is issued by public notice and is effective immediately.

Digital trade documents gain legal effect if they use reliable methods to establish control, integrity, and auditability.
Provides statutory recognition for electronic trade documents and deems them legally effective if they contain required information and employ a reliable method to identify the document, establish and retain control, preserve integrity, and provide an auditable lifecycle; control established by a reliable method is treated as possession and confers holder rights, while identity management and trust services that meet reliability standards are admissible, subject to provider obligations, liability rules, and cross border equivalence determinations by the Central Government.