DGFT Tightens Participation in Exhibitions Rules

·         The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Trade Notice No. 08/2026-27 dated 1 July 2026, amending the Market Access Support (MAS) Guidelines under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) – Niryat Disha.

·         The amendments are issued in continuation of Trade Notice No. 19/2025-26 dated 31 December 2025 to provide greater operational clarity and certainty.

·         Business Support Missions (BSMs):

o    The minimum recommended delegation size for each Business Support Mission has been reduced from 50 participants to 25 participants.

·         Refund of Advance Grant:

o    A new provision has been inserted under the Operational Guidelines for Market Access Support.

o    If an event is cancelled or a participant withdraws, any advance grant received must be refunded within 15 days from the date of cancellation or withdrawal.

·         Interest on Delayed Refund:

o    Failure to refund the advance grant within the stipulated period will attract simple interest at 10% per annum, calculated from the date of communication of the cancellation or withdrawal decision.

·         No Other Changes:

o    All other provisions of Trade Notice No. 19/2025-26 remain unchanged.

·         The Trade Notice has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.

 

[DGFT Trade Notice No. 08/2026-27 dated 01 July 2026]

Subject: Amendment to Guidelines for Market Access Support under Export Promotion Mission (EPM) — Niryat Disha

In continuation of Trade Notice No. 19/2025-26 dated 31st December 2025, the following amendments and insertions are hereby issued for operational clarity and certainty. These shall form part of the guidelines of the Market Access Support intervention under Export Promotion Mission (EPM) - Niryat Disha, as issued earlier –

Para No.

Existing Text

Revised / Inserted Text

Draft HBP
Para X.5 (f)

A minimum delegation size of 50 participants is recommended for each BSM.

A minimum delegation size of participants for BSM shall be 25.

Inserted Operational Guidelines of Market Access Support
Para 6.1 (i)

 

In cases of cancellation of the event/decision to withdraw from participation — any advance grant released shall be refunded within 15 days from the cancellation of the event/decision to withdraw from participation, failing which the funding obtained shall be refunded along with simple interest at 10% per annum from the date of communication of cancellation of the event/decision to withdraw from participation.

2. All other provisions of Trade Notice No. 19/2025-26 dated 20th dated 31st December 2025 shall remain unchanged. This Trade Notice is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.

{Issued from File No. 01/02/32/AM-26/EPM}