Export growth in agricultural commodities linked to targeted government promotion and facilitation measures to expand market access.
India's agricultural exports recorded substantial growth-shallots rose markedly and pineapples nearly doubled since 2013-with principal export markets identified. Recent aggregate merchandise exports also increased year-on-year and over prior multi-year periods. The Government has implemented export-promotion measures including an export monitoring desk, statute reviews to remove redundancies, bilateral trade agreements, district-level export hub initiatives, drone pilots for connectivity, compliance rationalisation, exporters' support schemes, branding and value-chain alignment, and an IT platform for licences and grievance redressal.

Traceability systems drive agri-export competitiveness, integrating IT and blockchain to strengthen certification and market linkages for exporters.
APEDA recounts its role in raising agricultural and processed food exports, supporting exporter compliance and infrastructure, and implementing IT-enabled services and product-specific traceability systems including GrapeNet and a Blockchain-based APEDA Trust Chain. It promotes GI and indigenous products, digitalisation of land records and tenancy formalisation, a Farmer Connect Portal and Market Intelligence Cell, and reports state-level action plans under the revamped Agri Export Policy alongside development of the Varanasi Agri-Export Hub and secretariat functions for the National Programme for Organic Production.

Interim trade agreement framework to broaden bilateral trade and investment, covering goods, services, customs, and tax issues.
An interim trade agreement between India and Australia will establish a transitional framework covering goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs procedures, and legal and institutional issues to expand trade and investment flows under a rules-based international trading system, with ministers urging resolution of tax issues affecting Indian software firms and signing an MoU on tourism and education to promote mutual recognition of qualifications and people-to-people exchanges.

Export promotion schemes for IT services drive regulatory support and incentives to boost software and ITeS exports.
Government initiatives provide a regulatory and incentive framework to promote IT/ITeS exports: the Software Technology Parks Scheme as a 100% export-oriented program administered by STPI; the SEZ Act and rules offering simplified procedures and single-window clearances to promote exports, investment and employment; the National Policy on Software Products, 2019 to develop India as a global software product hub; and complementary measures including the Next Generation Incubation Scheme and market development initiatives to strengthen export competitiveness.

Duty liability on goods removed from SEZs: customs, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties apply upon entry into DTA.
The legal framework establishes that goods removed from Special Economic Zones to the Domestic Tariff Area are chargeable to customs duties, including applicable anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, levied as they would be when such goods are imported.

Monetary policy stance retained with policy rate unchanged; liquidity framework recalibrated and targeted facilities extended to support recovery.
The Reserve Bank kept the policy repo rate unchanged and maintained an accommodative stance, recalibrated its liquidity management framework by making 14-day variable rate reverse repos the main operation while restricting Fixed Rate Reverse Repo and MSF to end-of-day hours, and announced targeted measures including extension of on-tap liquidity facilities, enhancement of the VRR limit, finalisation of CDS directions, permission for banks to engage in offshore foreign-currency-settled rupee derivatives, higher e-RUPI voucher caps, increased NACH limits for TReDS settlements, and draft Master Directions on IT outsourcing and governance.

Policy repo rate decision maintains accommodative monetary stance to support growth while aiming to keep inflation within target.
The Monetary Policy Committee kept the policy repo rate unchanged and decided to continue the accommodative stance to revive and sustain growth while ensuring CPI inflation moves toward the medium-term target; operational LAF rates were unchanged. This decision followed assessment of global headwinds from the pandemic and supply-chain disruptions, and a domestic recovery that remains incomplete with elevated core inflation and large systemic liquidity. The MPC judged continued policy support necessary, noted projections for inflation and GDP, and recorded a near-unanimous vote with one reservation on stance continuation.

Foreign direct investment policy: expanded automatic route and sectoral reforms enhance investment climate and technology transfer.
The Government maintains an investor-friendly FDI regime allowing most sectors 100% FDI under the Automatic route, with the policy under continuous review and amended after stakeholder consultations. Recent sectoral reforms in insurance, defence, petroleum and natural gas, and telecom aim to liberalise access and promote inflows, which are expected to augment domestic investment, foster technology transfer, generate employment, and improve competitiveness and export promotion.

Single window clearance mechanism enabling faster approvals for SEZs and time-bound DTA permissions for EOUs to streamline trade.
The administration advances Minimum Government - Maximum Governance by providing Ministry of MSME scheme details online and using field offices to create awareness, while a coordinated exercise across central and state bodies seeks to remove compliance burdens on MSMEs and startups. Export facilitation includes a single window clearance mechanism and dedicated customs wing for SEZs to speed approvals for export and DTA supplies; EOUs receive expedited export clearances and a time-bound procedure for DTA sale permission under the existing Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures.

Millet export growth expected as exporters access new markets supported by APEDA facilitation and export strategy measures.
India expects substantial expansion of millet exports as global demand for nutri cereals rises. APEDA is facilitating market access through a Nutri Cereals Export Promotion Forum, Virtual Trade Fairs, Buyer-Seller Meets, sensitization for start ups, and an MoU with the Indian Institute of Millets Research to prepare an export strategy and refine the millet value chain. Budgetary support for post harvest value addition and branding plus planned international promotion programmes aim to strengthen export readiness and diversify markets for millets and millet value added products.

Level playing field for domestic manufacturers: Budget 2022 phases out concessional import rates to boost capacity.
Budget 2022 proposes to phase out concessional rates in capital goods and project imports gradually to create a level playing field for domestic manufacturers and enable capacity creation in sectors including tractor manufacturing. This policy change is contextualised within a broader set of export-promotion and trade-facilitation measures introduced since 2014, including the Foreign Trade Policy, export incentive schemes with transferable duty credit scrips, interest equalization on export credit, logistics reforms, remission and rebate schemes, and digital facilitation for certificates of origin.

Budget direction sets infrastructure and trade-driven economic policy, prioritising infrastructure, digital connectivity and FTAs to spur growth
Union Budget 2022-23 is a forward-looking economic policy blueprint prioritising sustained infrastructure investment via the PM Gati Shakti National Plan and a significant capital outlay intended to generate multiplier-driven demand and employment. It emphasises digital connectivity and services export resilience, seeks to leverage India's STEM graduate base to foster R&D and innovation, and advances trade policy through active negotiation and finalisation of Free Trade Agreements to expand market access.

Capital spending multiplier boosts demand and jobs; enhanced public investment to spur infrastructure led growth and export expansion.
Enhanced public capital spending in the Union Budget is advanced as the principal demand stimulus, with elevated central allocations and long term interest free loans to states to finance infrastructure projects and a projected multi fold multiplier effect on economic activity. The Budget maintains no new tax measures and conservative revenue estimates while prioritising PM Gati Shakti led infrastructure planning to reduce logistics costs. Industry is exhorted to expand exports and services, supported by administrative reforms such as lifetime jeweller registration and record services export performance.

Programme continuation: IFLDP supports infrastructure, environmental remediation, industry modernization and export promotion.
Continuation of the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) through 2026 establishes six sub schemes-Sustainable Technology and Environmental Promotion, Integrated Development of Leather Sector, Institutional Facilities, Mega Cluster Development, Brand Promotion, and Development of Design Studios-with defined objectives, graded central assistance rates (differentiated for Northeastern areas and MSMEs), project caps, implementing agencies, and component wise year wise outlays to support infrastructure, environmental remediation, modernization, skills and export promotion.

Use of UAVs for first mile connectivity boosts market access for remote agricultural producers under odop initiative to scale procurements.
ODOP piloted payload UAVs/drones to resolve first mile connectivity barriers for Lakadong Turmeric in West Jaintia Hills, addressing remoteness, terrain and extra transport costs that impede buyer procurement. Partnering with AGNIi Mission, ODOP integrated drone transport into end to end processing and market linkage efforts, facilitated trade and price improvements, pursued a Geographical Indication application, and planned scaled procurements under a "Lakadong Turmeric 2.0" strategy to enhance export and domestic market access.

GST registration exemption facilitates artisans and small businesses onboarding to e commerce platforms through government initiatives and dedicated portals.
Central measures reduce compliance and market barriers to integrate small producers into e commerce. CBIC has exempted sellers of specified handicraft goods from compulsory GST registration, while DPIIT engagement and One District One Product drives facilitate onboarding of artisans, GI goods producers and toy makers to major e commerce platforms. MSME initiatives include an "Adoption of e Commerce by Micro Enterprises" sub component under the Procurement and Marketing Support scheme and e marketing portals such as NSIC Global Mart and KVIC; TRIFED's TribesIndia marketplace and platform tie ups support tribal artisans.

Export promotion measures expand schemes, logistics support and digital facilitation to diversify and boost goods and services exports.
Government policy and operational measures to boost exports include creation of a Logistics Division; implementation of RoDTEP and RoSCTL; a Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin; Interest Equalization on export credit; targeted incentive schemes for merchandise and services; NiryatBandhu mentorship; Trade Infrastructure and Market Access support; an Agriculture Export Policy and transport assistance for specified agricultural products; identification of Champion Services Sectors; and the Districts as Export Hubs initiative, alongside COVID-era financial relief for MSMEs.

Towns of Export Excellence status enables prioritized MAI funding and EPCG authorisations for local exporters and service providers.
Recognition as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE) grants prioritized export-promotion measures: towns meeting specified production thresholds are notified in Appendix 1B, and under Para 1.35(b) recognised associations can obtain Market Access Initiative financial assistance while Common Service Providers in TEEs are eligible for EPCG authorisations; DGFT regional offices implement these benefits and maintain records of EPCG licences and MAI support.

Trade remedies and manufacturing incentives aim to curb unfair imports and bolster domestic production reducing import dependency.
The Government has deployed trade remedies, technical regulations and quality control orders to address unfair trade practices and substandard imports from China, engaged bilaterally on non tariff barriers, and promoted import diversification. Complementary industrial policy measures include Production Linked Incentive Schemes (PLIs) across pharmaceuticals, electronics, white goods, specialty steel, food processing, solar PV and drones to expand domestic manufacturing capacity, attract investment and reduce dependency on imports while services trade is advanced through market access negotiations and targeted trade promotion.

Export Promotion: institutional and regulatory reforms to ease compliance and boost agricultural commodity exports.
Operational reforms include establishing an Export Monitoring Desk to remove exporter impediments, reviewing Commerce Acts to eliminate redundancies, pursuing bilateral trade agreements, promoting district export hubs under One District One Product, providing exporters oriented schemes, developing an IT licensing and grievance platform, advancing branding of Indian exports, and reducing compliance burdens through rationalization and decriminalization to improve ease of doing business and global value chain integration.