RELIEF Scheme 2026: Objectives, Features, Incentives and India's Export Support

RELIEF Scheme 2026:The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has approved Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) is a time-bound government initiative launched under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with a budget of ₹497 crore to provide a financial and operational safety net for businesses trading within the volatile West Asia maritime corridor.

RELIEF Scheme aimed at supporting Indian exporters affected by extraordinary freight escalation, heightened insurance premiums and war-related export risks arising from disruptions in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor.

What is RELIFE Scheme?

The RELIEF Scheme is initiative of government India to support the Indian expoters and  mitigating the impact the logistics uncertainties caused by the geopolitical situation in West Asia. It focuses on shipments destined for or transshipped through key regional hubs like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen , meant either for delivery or for transshipment. 

The ECGC Ltd. (formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India) serves as the nodal agency, responsible for verifying claims, processing disbursements, and monitoring the impact of the scheme under the Export Promotion Mission

Objectives of the RELIEF Scheme: 

It is Export schemes to ensure Indian exports remain competitive despite regional instability

• Mitigate Logistics Costs: To offset extraordinary freight escalation and emergency conflict-linked surcharges.

• Risk Protection: To offer enhanced credit insurance against commercial and political risks.

• Ensure Supply Chain Resilience: To prevent order cancellations and protect employment in export-heavy sectors.

• Swift Response: To provide a flexible framework that adapts to the evolving security situation in the Gulf.

Key Features of the RELIEF Scheme

The scheme is structured into three specific components, backed by a total financial outlay of ₹497 crore covered both delivery or for transshipment:

1. Countries Cover: Covering consignments destined to countries in the region such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran and Yemen, meant either for delivery or for transshipment:

2. Retroactive Risk Coverage: Exporters who already held ECGC credit insurance for shipments between February 14, 2026, and March 15, 2026, receive up to 100% risk coverage. This ensures enhanced protection for goods already in transit during the peak of the disruption.

3. Prospective Export Support: For upcoming consignments planned between March 16, 2026, and June 15, 2026, the government supports up to 95% risk coverage. This encourages exporters to continue their trade flows with confidence.

4. Dedicated MSME Relief: Recognizing that many small businesses may not have credit insurance, the scheme offers a partial reimbursement (up to 50%) for extraordinary freight and insurance burdens. This is capped at ₹50 lakh per exporter for eligible non-ECGC-insured MSMEs.

5. ECGC will act as nodal implementing agency for risk coverage and reimbursement mechanism.

6. RELIEF covers both eligible past shipments and prospective exports, with a strong focus on MSME support.

7. Intervention will be funded under under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and reviewed periodically based on geopolitical developments.

How Does the RELIEF Scheme Support the Exporters?

Beyond financial aid, the government has operationalized an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience. This group provides holistic support by:

• Procedural Relaxations: Easing the movement of stranded cargo.

• Cost Waivers: Waiving storage and dwell time charges for affected cargo at ports.

• Real-time Monitoring: Using a dashboard-based system at ECGC to track claims and fund utilization instantly.

• Policy Flexibility: Allowing the EPM Steering Committee to modify the scheme based on real-time geopolitical shifts.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry approved the ₹497 crore RELIEF Scheme 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission. This initiative provides a financial safety net for Indian exporters facing disruptions in the West Asia maritime corridor due to extraordinary freight costs, heightened insurance, and war-related risks. It covers shipments to key regional hubs, offering risk coverage and dedicated support for MSMEs, with ECGC as the nodal agency.

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