The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with a total outlay of Rs 250 billion for FY26 to FY31. The flagship programme aims to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters and labour-intensive sectors. The Cabinet has also cleared a Rs 200 billion credit guarantee scheme to support exporters’ financing needs.

The mission will operate through two integrated sub-schemes—Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha.

Niryat Protsahan focuses on improving MSMEs’ access to affordable trade finance through measures such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, e-commerce exporter credit cards and credit enhancement for market diversification.

Niryat Disha targets non-financial enablers including quality and compliance support, global branding and packaging assistance, logistics and warehousing support, transport reimbursements, trade fair participation and trade intelligence initiatives.

The EPM consolidates and modernises existing export schemes such as the Interest Equalisation Scheme and Market Access Initiative to address ongoing structural challenges in Indian exports. These include limited access to affordable trade finance, high compliance costs, weak global branding and logistical hurdles faced by interior-region exporters.

Priority support will be given to sectors affected by recent global tariff hikes, including textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods and marine products. These interventions aim to sustain export orders, protect employment and open new market opportunities.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will serve as the implementing agency for the mission.