Rupee Export Realisations & FTP Benefits Aligned with FEMA

The amendment gives greater regulatory recognition to Indian Rupee settlement of exports, allowing eligible rupee-realised exports to receive FTP incentives/benefits and count towards Export Obligations on par with foreign-currency exports, subject to RBI/FEMA requirements.

·         Para 2.52 – Denomination of Export Contracts

o    Export contracts and invoices may generally be denominated in foreign currency or Indian Rupees.

o    Exception: Contracts involving ACU member countries, other than Nepal and Bhutan, must be denominated in a currency determined by the Asian Clearing Union (ACU).

o    Such ACU transactions may also be denominated and settled in accordance with RBI directions.

o    Export contracts involving Nepal and Bhutan will be denominated and settled in Indian Rupees, or as per RBI directions.

o    Contracts/invoices under EXIM Bank/Government of India Lines of Credit may also be denominated in Indian Rupees.

o    The earlier detailed conditions relating to Vostro accounts, freely convertible currencies and ACU Dollar/Euro have accordingly been replaced.

·         Para 2.53 – Eligibility for FTP Export Benefits

o    Export realisations in Indian Rupees will continue to qualify for export benefits, incentives and fulfilment of Export Obligations under FTP.

o    The revised provision extends this treatment to exports to any country other than Nepal and Bhutan, where rupee proceeds are realised through banking channels by credit to Indian Rupee accounts of persons resident outside India, maintained in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations.

o    Such rupee realisations will be eligible at par with export realisations in foreign currency for FTP benefits and Export Obligation fulfilment.

o    Exports to Iran remain subject to compliance with Para 2.19 of FTP 2023.

·         Key policy change: The notification effectively broadens the acceptance of INR-based export realisations for availing FTP benefits, while linking the treatment to the prevailing FEMA/RBI framework.

·         Purpose: To align FTP provisions on denomination of export contracts and eligibility for FTP benefits against rupee export realisations with the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023.

·         Effective: Immediate effect from 20 August 2026.

 

[DGFT Notification No. 30/2026-27 dated 20 August 2026]

Effect of this Notification: Paras 2.52 and 2.53 of the Foreign Trade Pol icy (FTP) 2023 have been amended to align the provisions relating to denomination of export contracts and eligibility for FTP benefits in respect of export realisations in Indian Rupees with the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023.

Subject: Amendment in Para 2.52 and 2.53 of FTP 2023

S.O.(E): In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 5 of Foreign Trade (Development &Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments relating to Para 2.52 and 2.53 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, with immediate effect:

Para No.

Existing Para

Revised Para

2.52: Denomination of Export Contracts

(a)   All export contracts and invoices must be denominated either in freely convertible currency or Indian rupees, but export proceeds must be realized in freely convertible currency.

(b)   Export proceeds for specific exports may also be realized in rupees, provided:

It is through a freely convertible Vostro account of a non-resident bank situated in a country other than an ACU member, Nepal, or Bhutan.

Rupee payment via Vostro account must be correspond to free foreign currency payment by the buyer in their non-resident bank account.

The Free foreign exchange remitted by buyer to their non-resident bank (after deducting bank service charges) will count as export realization under FTP export promotion schemes.

(c)   Contracts settled through the ACU must be denominated in ACU Dollars, although transactions may be settled in ACU Dollar or ACU Euro per RBI notifications. The Central Government may relax these provisions when appropriate. Export contracts and invoices can be denominated in Indian rupees under an EXIM Bank/Government of India line of credit.

(d)   Invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in INR are also permitted subject to compliances with RBI’s A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.10 dated July 11, 2022, INR trade transactions must follow these guidelines:

(i)   Indian importers must pay in INR, credited into the Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country, against invoices for goods or services from the overseas seller/supplier.

(ii)   Indian exporters must receive export proceeds in INR from balances m the designated Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country.

(a)   All export contracts and invoices, other than those involving member countries of the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), shall be denominated either in foreign currency or Indian Rupees. Export proceeds shall be realized either m any foreign currency or in Indian Rupees.

(b)   Export contracts involving member countries of the ACU, other than Nepal and Bhutan, shall be denominated in a currency determined by the ACU. However, such transactions may also be denominated and settled in accordance with the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time.

(c)   Export contracts involving Nepal and Bhutan shall be denominated and settled in Indian Rupees, or in accordance with the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India from time to time. Further, export contracts and invoices under EXIM Bank/Government of India Lines of Credit may also be denominated in Indian Rupees.

2.53: Applicability of FTP Schemes for Export Realisations in Indian Rupees

i.    Export proceeds realized m Indian Rupees against exports to Iran are permitted to avail exports benefits I incentives/ fulfilment of Export Obligations under the FTP, at par with export proceed s realized in freely convertible currency subject to compliance of para 2.19 of the FTP.

ii.    Export proceeds realized ion Indian Rupees as per para 2.52(d)(ii) are permitted to avail exports benefits / incentives / fulfillment of Export Obligations under the FTP

Exports to any country, other than Nepal and Bhutan, for which export proceeds are realized m Indian Rupees through banking channels by credit to Indian Rupee accounts of persons resident outside India, opened m accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, as amended from time to time, shall be eligible for export benefits/incentives and fulfilment of Export Obligation under the FTP, at par with exports realized in any foreign currency.

In the case of exports to Iran, the above provisions shall apply subject to compliance with the provisions of para 2.19 of the FTP.

This is issued with the approval of the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

[Issued from File No. 01/93/180/32/AM-19/PC.Il(B)/E-17430]