Govt Extends RELIEF Scheme Timelines
to Support Exporters Amid West Asia Logistics Disruptions
·
The Department of Commerce has extended the timelines
under Component II of the RELIEF
(Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) Scheme.
·
The extension was notified through Notification No. 37/2026-27 dated 30 September
2026.
·
The decision was taken due to continuing geopolitical tensions in West
Asia and their impact on maritime logistics in the Gulf region.
·
RELIEF is a time-bound intervention under the Export
Promotion Mission (EPM) aimed at supporting Indian exporters.
·
Component II encourages exporters to obtain
ECGC insurance cover
for shipments to affected regions.
·
The scheme provides 95% risk coverage for eligible
export shipments.
·
Benefits are available for Stand Alone Policies and
Whole Turnover Policies
obtained on or after 16 March
2026.
·
Covered cargo categories include:
o Full
Container Load (FCL)
o Less
than Container Load (LCL)
o Reefer
containers
o (Energy
shipments are excluded)
·
The scheme ensures that insurance premiums paid by exporters do not
exceed pre-disruption levels during the eligible period.
·
RELIEF was launched on 19 March 2026 to address:
o Rising
freight costs
o Higher
insurance premiums
o War-related
export risks
o Disruptions
in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor
·
The extension reflects the Government of
India's commitment to:
o Strengthening
export resilience
o Maintaining
trade flows
o Supporting
exporters amid ongoing geopolitical and logistics uncertainties
[ABS News Service/03.10.2026]
In view of the continued geopolitical
disruptions in West Asia and its impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf and
adjoining regions, the Department of Commerce has vide Notification No.37/2026-27
dated 30th September 2026 extended the timelines under Component II of
RELIEF – Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation, a time-bound
intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
Component II of the RELIEF scheme encourages
exporters to obtain ECGC cover for upcoming shipments to the specified regions,
with 95% risk coverage. The component is available for Stand Alone Policies or Whole
Turnover Policies obtained on or after 16 March 2026. The types of cargo covered
under the benefits include Full Container Load (FCL), Less than Container Load (LCL),
and Reefer containers (excluding energy shipments). Further, this component of RELIEF
ensures that the premium paid by exporters shall not be increased beyond the pre-disruption
level for the eligible period.
RELIEF was launched on 19 March 2026 as
a targeted intervention to support Indian exporters affected by extraordinary freight
escalation, heightened insurance premia and war-related export risks arising from
disruptions in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor.
The above extension reflects Government
of India’s commitment to ensure export resilience, sustaining trade flows and supporting
exporters amid the prevailing geopolitical and logistics uncertainties.