Government Schemes & Export Support

Export Schemes in India

Explore government initiatives that can help Indian exporters strengthen international market access, improve export competitiveness, manage trade risks and access eligible financial or duty-related support. ASM StratConsult LLP helps businesses assess relevant schemes, understand eligibility and navigate the application process.

Explore Export Promotion Schemes

India offers a range of export-related policy instruments, trade facilitation initiatives, duty remission mechanisms and market development programmes. The right option depends on your product, export model, business category, authorisations and applicable policy conditions.

Review the schemes below to understand their broad purpose and where to verify current eligibility, benefits and application requirements.

Important: Scheme rules, rates, eligible products, application windows and operational guidelines may change. Some programmes listed below may be subject to revised or transitional arrangements. Always verify the latest notification and applicable conditions with the relevant government authority before making a business or financial decision.

Export Schemes & Support Mechanisms

Select a scheme to learn about its purpose, potential relevance and official verification resources.

The Export Promotion Mission is a Government of India initiative designed to strengthen the export ecosystem, with support measures focused on export finance and non-financial export development.

Key components

  • NIRYAT PROTSAHAN: Focuses on trade finance and related financial support mechanisms for eligible exporters.
  • NIRYAT DISHA: Focuses on market access, quality and compliance, branding, packaging, trade fairs, logistics, warehousing, trade intelligence and capacity building.

The Mission is particularly relevant for businesses assessing finance constraints, export-market development needs or support for becoming more competitive internationally. The specific benefit available depends on the applicable guidelines and eligible activity.

Export Finance Market Access Export Development

RoDTEP is intended to refund eligible embedded central, state and local duties, taxes and levies on exported products that are not otherwise refunded or rebated under other mechanisms.

Potential relevance

  • Eligible exporters of notified products.
  • Businesses seeking remission of qualifying embedded taxes and levies.
  • Exporters whose products, rates and shipping documentation meet the applicable scheme requirements.

Benefits are subject to notified product classifications, rates, exclusions, export documentation and the current validity of the applicable policy. Do not assume every product or shipment qualifies.

The EPCG Scheme supports eligible exporters in importing capital goods under the applicable customs-duty framework, subject to scheme conditions and export obligation requirements.

What businesses should evaluate

  • Whether the proposed capital goods and importer are eligible under the current policy.
  • The applicable authorisation and customs conditions.
  • Export obligation, timelines, documentation and compliance requirements.
  • Whether the projected export business justifies the compliance commitments.

EPCG is generally worth examining for manufacturers and other eligible businesses investing in machinery or capital equipment linked to their export operations. Specific treatment must be confirmed under current Foreign Trade Policy provisions.

Advance Authorisation enables eligible exporters to import specified inputs without payment of customs duty, subject to the applicable conditions, input-output norms and export obligations.

Potential applications

  • Manufacturers importing raw materials or inputs used in export products.
  • Exporters seeking to manage input costs for eligible export orders.
  • Businesses able to meet prescribed consumption norms, export obligations and record-keeping requirements.

Eligibility and permissible inputs depend on the product, applicable norms and authorisation terms. Review the current DGFT provisions before planning imports under this mechanism.

Official reference: DGFT — Advance Authorisation

Duty Drawback provides for the refund of eligible customs and other duties on imported inputs used in the manufacture or processing of exported goods, as provided under the applicable drawback rules and notified rates.

Key considerations

  • Applicable drawback schedule and rate for the exported product.
  • Shipping bill declarations and supporting export documentation.
  • Product classification, eligibility and any applicable exclusions.
  • Coordination between customs records and export documentation.

The applicable rate or calculation method varies by product and notification. Exporters should verify the current schedule rather than rely on historic rates.

TIES was designed to help address infrastructure gaps that constrain exports, including facilities that support export-oriented trade and logistics. It has principally operated as an infrastructure support mechanism for eligible implementing agencies and projects rather than a general-purpose direct subsidy for every exporter.

What to check

  • Whether a current call, guideline or funding window is available.
  • Whether the applicant is an eligible implementing agency or project sponsor.
  • Project eligibility, funding conditions and approval requirements.

Individual exporters should not assume that TIES provides a direct grant for ordinary business expenses. Verify current programme status and applicant criteria with the Department of Commerce.

Official reference: Department of Commerce

Market access support has been used to help Indian exporters develop overseas markets through eligible trade promotion activities. Support arrangements and implementation may change under newer export promotion programmes and guidelines.

Activities to investigate

  • Participation in eligible international trade fairs and exhibitions.
  • Market research, buyer-seller meetings and trade promotion.
  • Overseas market development and promotional activities through eligible implementing bodies.
  • Branding, packaging and compliance-related support where permitted under current guidelines.

MAI and related historical market development assistance should be assessed alongside the current Export Promotion Mission and the latest applicable scheme guidelines. Availability is not guaranteed.

Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) offers export credit insurance and related risk-cover products, subject to the terms of the relevant policy. These products can help eligible exporters and financial institutions manage specified risks associated with overseas trade.

Potential benefits

  • Cover against specified commercial risks involving overseas buyers.
  • Protection against certain political risks, subject to policy terms.
  • Risk-management support for eligible export credit transactions.
  • Access to suitable export credit insurance products for qualifying businesses.

ECGC insurance is not an unconditional government grant. Coverage, exclusions, premium, claim conditions and buyer or country limits depend on the selected product and policy.

Official reference: ECGC — Export Credit Insurance

The Interest Equalisation Scheme was introduced to provide interest support on eligible pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit for specified categories of exporters, subject to the rules and validity periods notified by the government.

Before relying on this scheme

  • Check whether a currently valid extension or successor arrangement applies.
  • Confirm eligible exporter categories, products, banks and credit facilities.
  • Obtain written confirmation of the applicable rate and period from the participating bank and relevant authorities.

Historical IES terms must not be treated as proof of current availability. Businesses should also examine applicable export finance support under the current Export Promotion Mission.

DFIA is an export-linked authorisation mechanism under the Foreign Trade Policy that permits duty-free import of specified inputs for eligible export products, subject to the applicable conditions.

What to evaluate

  • Eligibility of the export product and the proposed inputs.
  • Applicable input-output norms and authorisation conditions.
  • Export realisation, documentation and procedural requirements.
  • Whether DFIA is appropriate compared with Advance Authorisation or other available mechanisms.

DFIA is not universally available for all goods or exporters. Confirm the latest Foreign Trade Policy provisions, product norms and procedural requirements before applying.

Need Help Identifying the Right Export Scheme?

Tell us about your business, products, export plans and current challenges. ASM StratConsult LLP can help you assess potentially relevant export support mechanisms, review eligibility considerations and plan the next steps for verification and application.

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