Government schemes for exporters & MSMEs

Key takeaways

DGFT / CBIC

What Are the Duty Incentive Schemes?

These schemes refund or remit duties and taxes embedded in exported goods. Every exporter with an IEC should evaluate which ones apply to their product.

DGFT

Duty Exemption Schemes

These schemes exempt customs duty on imports used for export production. They save 10-50% on input costs depending on tariff rates. Among the highest-value incentives available.

2026 compliance change:

Export obligation periods under AA/EPCG have been compressed from 18 to 12 months for most sectors. DGFT granted automatic extension to Aug 31, 2026 for obligations expiring Mar-May 2026.

New 2025

Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

India's biggest export support overhaul. A Rs 25,060 crore, 6-year programme approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2025 that consolidates fragmented schemes into two pillars.

EPM at a glance

Outlay

Rs 25,060 crore (FY2025-26 to FY2030-31)

Implementing agency

DGFT via BharatTradeNET digital platform

Pillar 1

Niryat Protsahan. 2.75% interest subvention, credit guarantees, export factoring

Pillar 2

Niryat Disha. Branding, certification reimbursement, logistics, trade fairs

Priority targets

MSMEs, first-time exporters, labour-intensive sectors

Read the full EPM guide →

Finance

Export Credit & Insurance

Government-backed schemes that make export credit cheaper and protect against buyer non-payment. These directly reduce the cost of working capital for exporters.

Already covered:

For a detailed breakdown of packing credit, post-shipment credit, PCFC, and bill discounting, see our

Export Finance guide

MSME

MSME Schemes for Exporters

Schemes specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Udyam Registration is the gateway. Without it, you cannot access any of these.

Read the full MSME schemes guide →

E-Commerce

E-Commerce Export Schemes

Recent policy changes specifically benefiting e-commerce exporters. Including the new inventory-based framework operationalized in August 2026.

Manufacturing

PLI, SEZ & Bonded Warehouse

Large-scale manufacturing incentives and duty deferral schemes for exporters with significant production operations.

MOOWR is underutilized.

Unlike AA or EPCG, MOOWR has no export obligation and no minimum investment threshold. If you import inputs and export finished goods, consider bonded manufacturing. Duty is deferred on import and fully remitted on export.

Promotion

Market Access & Promotion

Schemes that help exporters enter new markets, build brand presence, and get recognized for export performance.

Key regulatory changes in 2025-26

• JUL 2026 RoDTEP/MEIS disbursements now auto-verified against GSTR-1/GSTR-3B. Clean GST filings required
• AUG 2026 Inventory-based e-commerce export framework operationalized. Digital repository requirement
• APR 2026 Rs 10 lakh per-consignment courier export limit removed. No value ceiling
• JAN 2026 New Interest Subvention Scheme launched under EPM, replacing legacy Interest Equalization Scheme
• NOV 2025 Export Promotion Mission approved. Rs 25,060 crore, consolidating fragmented export support
• 2025-26 AA/EPCG export obligation compressed from 18 to 12 months; automatic extension to Aug 31, 2026

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Sources & citations

• Foreign Trade Policy 2023 (Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7)..
• DGFT Notifications and Handbook of Procedures..
• Ministry of MSME. PMEGP, CGTMSE, CLCSS, ZED scheme guidelines. ECGC Ltd. NIRVIK Scheme.
• RBI Master Direction on Export Credit..
• PIB. Export Promotion Mission Cabinet approval (Nov 2025). PLI Scheme performance data (PIB, 2026)..
• CBIC. MOOWR 2019 Regulations..

Update history

• 2026-08-11 First published.