Prioritisation of cargo for expedited movement, while urging freight stability and port preparedness amid canal disruption.
A four point operational plan directs joint identification and prioritisation of perishable and time sensitive cargo for expedited movement, requests shipping lines to honour existing contracts and maintain freight rate stability, mandates port advisories to prepare for post clearance cargo bunching, and advises exploration of re routing via the Cape of Good Hope while maintaining active monitoring of vessel backlogs.

Agricultural export promotion expanded through virtual buyer seller meet to connect exporters and importers across borders.
APEDA convened a virtual Buyer Seller Meet to strengthen export opportunities for agricultural and processed food products with a neighbouring market, bringing together exporters, importers, embassy officials, trade representatives, ministries and chambers to facilitate commercial linkages, market access discussions and strategic cooperation. The outreach formed part of a series of virtual BSMs aimed at connecting exporters and importers, supported by cited bilateral trade figures and identified principal export and import commodity groups to highlight market potential amid pandemic-driven regional trade focus.

Customs exchange rate adjustment updates Turkish lira import and export rates, effective from the notified date.
Amendment to Schedule I of Notification No. 31/2021 under section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 substituting the serial No. 18 entry to set distinct rupee exchange rates for the Turkish Lira for imported and exported goods, effective from 25 March 2021.

Index of Eight Core Industries shows pandemic-driven contraction, prompting infrastructure, PLI and mining reforms to revive production.
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) registered substantive contraction during 2020-21 driven by Covid 19 demand and supply disruptions, with provisional monthly and year on year declines across several constituent sectors. The government response combines demand stimulus through major infrastructure and housing programmes, targeted Production Linked Incentive schemes (including Speciality Steel), energy sector programmes for 24x7 power and universal electrification, and structural mining and hydrocarbon licensing reforms designed to attract investment and accelerate domestic production.

Prohibited export of protected wildlife goods leads to customs seizure and investigation under export and wildlife protection rules.
A consignment of peacock tail feathers misdeclared as plastic pipes was seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 because export of such protected wildlife items is prohibited under the export policy and they are subject to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; investigation and enforcement for confiscation and related statutory proceedings are continuing.

Export promotion measures expand incentives and digital facilitation to boost merchandise and services export competitiveness.
The Government implemented policy and regulatory steps to boost exports, including extension of the Foreign Trade Policy, continuation of the Interest Equalization Scheme, launch of the RoDTEP scheme, and deployment of a Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin. Sectoral promotion measures include an Agriculture Export Policy, action plans for Champion Services Sectors, and promotion of district export hubs. Pandemic-related financial relief measures emphasizing MSME support were also provided, accompanied by annexed five-year merchandise export data by major commodity groups.

Export promotion measures expanded to revive manufacturing and streamline export procedures, boosting agri, pharma and defence exports.
India's trade contracted during 2020-21 (April-January) with a reduced trade deficit; the government responded with a package of export-promotion and manufacturing-boosting measures: implementation of an Agriculture Export Policy and product-specific Export Promotion Forums, logistics support under Operation Greens, trade infrastructure schemes (TIES, MAI, TMA), sectoral export agency assistance, a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for thirteen sectors, a Bulk Drug Parks scheme, defence indigenisation and procurement reforms including a Buy (Indian)-IDDM category, expanded defence FDI, streamlined export authorisations, and the RoDTEP refund scheme.

MoU for MSME export promotion enables coordinated capacity building, sustainability and market access support across public agencies.
A Memorandum of Understanding between APEDA and NSIC creates interagency cooperation to expand export potential of agricultural and processed food MSME products by facilitating access to NSIC schemes, promoting international market participation, and coordinating international business development. It mandates joint capacity building in technology, skills, quality, and green manufacturing, and provision of assistance for social and environmental compliance and skilling to meet international standards, with outreach through awareness programmes and alignment with state action plans under the Agri Export Policy.

Supply chain resilience bolstered through domestic manufacturing incentives and diplomatic facilitation to diversify import sources and suppliers.
Government measures to strengthen supply chain resilience address pandemic-induced shocks and over-concentration of import sources by diversifying suppliers and securing inventories. The State engaged Export Promotion Councils, trade bodies and diplomatic missions to facilitate B2B virtual meetings and transport of available inventories, while Production Linked Incentive schemes were introduced to build domestic capacity in critical sectors such as Key Starting Materials, drug intermediates, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, and electronic components and mobiles to broaden supply chains and improve competitiveness.

Virtual trade facilitation secures exporter-importer interactions and preserves market access for agricultural exports during travel restrictions.
APEDA launched a virtual trade facilitation platform to maintain and boost agricultural and processed food exports during travel restrictions by enabling uninterrupted audio visual meetings, product showcases, workshops and personalized interactions, leveraging embassy support and digital promotion while restricting access to exchanged commercial data to participating parties.

Export infrastructure assistance expands grant support for state export projects, with concurrent duty remission and GST refund facilitation.
The Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) provides grant-in-aid to Central and State implementing agencies for creation and upgradation of export-linked infrastructure such as border haats, testing labs, cold chains, trade centres, warehousing, SEZs and cargo termini. Coordination efforts promote Districts as export hubs and address logistics constraints, while RoDTEP, duty drawback and GST refund mechanisms remit duties and taxes not otherwise refunded; schemes operate through electronic systems to ensure direct benefit delivery to exporters.

Export promotion measures expand market access and incentivise agricultural and manufactured exports through duty remission and trade facilitation.
Government measures to strengthen Indian exports deploy export-promotion and trade-facilitation mechanisms including an Agriculture Export Policy, freight and marketing assistance for agricultural products, sectoral export schemes and district-level export hubs. Fiscal support includes RoDTEP for remission of duties and levies not otherwise refunded, duty drawback and GST refunds, interest equalization on export credit, a Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin, and enhanced commercial diplomacy to improve market access and utilization of preferential trade arrangements.

Trade deficit narrows year to date as exports and imports decline, while sectoral divergences persist in merchandise and services.
India's external trade in April-February 2020-21 contracted overall with merchandise exports declining cumulatively despite a marginal uptick in February; imports fell sharply year to date driven by a large reduction in oil imports while non oil imports rose in February but declined cumulatively. Services receipts and payments registered year on year contractions in the latest RBI release for January 2021, with February 2021 service figures estimated. The merchandise trade deficit widened in February, but the combined merchandise and services deficit for April-February narrowed substantially versus the prior year; February services data remain provisional.

Investor facilitation portal to digitally streamline access to approvals, incentives, expert support, and policy updates for domestic investors.
The government is developing the Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra digital portal, managed by Invest India under DPIIT, to act as a single-stop investor facilitation platform for domestic investors. The portal will enable direct connection with Invest India experts, provide information on investment opportunities, approvals, incentives, applicable taxes, funding sources, manufacturing clusters, land availability, and tenders, integrate MSME portals and other initiatives, offer AI-based query resolution, and publish daily policy updates to streamline access to central and state-level clearances and supports.

BRICS economic cooperation advances deliverables on trade, e commerce, non tariff measures and SPS with intersessional consensus process.
India's chairship presented the 2021 CGETI calendar and proposed deliverables: an action plan for the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025; cooperation on the multilateral trading system including the TRIPS waiver proposal; a Framework for Consumer Protection in E Commerce; a Non Tariff Measures resolution mechanism; an SPS working mechanism; a cooperation framework for protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge; and a BRICS Framework on Cooperation in Professional Services, with intersessional deliberations to reach consensus.

Virtual trade facilitation expands export opportunities for agricultural and processed foods through secure online buyer seller meetings and events.
APEDA launched a Virtual Trade Fair to promote exports of agricultural and processed food products by replicating trade fair interactions digitally; it connects exporters with international buyers and offers audio video meetings, private meeting rooms, workshops and webinars to enable negotiations and market outreach while asserting that online interactions and exchanged data are secured and accessible only to involved parties.

Production-linked incentive scheme expands sectoral manufacturing support and administrative facilitation to boost domestic production and exports.
Central policy reforms aim to boost domestic manufacturing through the Production-Linked Incentive scheme across multiple sectors, administrative facilitation via an Empowered Group of Secretaries and Project Development Cells, and a planned Single Window System for end-to-end clearances. Budget measures and complementary initiatives include textile investment parks with plug-and-play facilities, customs duty rationalisation, a scrappage policy for vehicles, acceleration of the National Infrastructure Pipeline, industrial corridors and connectivity planning, targeted development schemes for backward and hilly regions, a Fund of Funds and Seed Fund for startups, an industrial land information system, and procurement rule changes to enhance local content.

Special Economic Zones policy treats designated duty-free enclaves as outside customs territory, promoting exports and investment.
Special Economic Zones policy treats a designated duty free enclave as outside customs territory, allows duty-free imports without licence, permits manufacturing and service activities, and grants tax benefits to Developers, Co Developers and Units. Units must achieve Positive Net Foreign Exchange cumulatively over five years; domestic sales face applicable customs duty. The document records nationwide counts of formally approved, notified and operational SEZs, state-wise distributions, and lists Agro and Food Processing SEZs with their notification and operational status along with export performance summaries.

Production-linked incentive scheme expands domestic manufacturing support, paired with single-window clearances and local procurement rules.
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes across key manufacturing sectors incentivise domestic production and exports, supported by institutional facilitation through an Empowered Group of Secretaries and Project Development Cells. A proposed Single Window System will streamline clearances. Complementary budgetary and regulatory measures include Mega Investment Textile Parks, customs duty rationalisation, a Scrappage Policy, and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. DPIIT actions cover industrial corridors, targeted regional development schemes, a Fund of Funds and Seed Fund for start-ups, an industrial information system to improve industrial land availability, and amendments to Public Procurement Rules to enhance local content.

Steel import registration now requires advance SIMS registration to obtain a time limited registration number for customs clearance.
Launch of the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) requires importers to obtain a SIMS Registration Number by submitting advance information 15-60 days before import; the Registration Number is valid for 75 days and is the only mandatory SIMS-related declaration required in the Bill of Entry to enable customs clearance.