RELIEF Scheme Expanded to Egypt and Jordan amid West Asia maritime disruptions

The Government expands RELIEF Scheme coverage to include Egypt and Jordan amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia and maritime logistics disruptions. The scheme is currently relevant for providing financial and operational support to Indian exporters.

RELIEF Scheme:

Dimension	Key Details
Aim	The scheme provides a financial and operational safety net for Indian exporters.
Type	The RELIEF Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme under the Export Promotion Mission.
Launch	The scheme has been launched in March 2026.
Nodal Ministry	The Ministry of Commerce & Industry is the nodal ministry for the scheme.
Implementing Agency	The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India implements the scheme.
ECGC Function	ECGC provides credit insurance to Indian exporters against buyer default, political risks, and commercial risks.
Duration	The scheme is a time-bound intervention initially notified for shipments between February and June 2026.
Objectives	The scheme provides for mitigation of logistics costs and maritime risk exposure, calibrated insurance and financial support to exporters, supply chain resilience, sustained trade flows, and support to MSME exporters affected by freight surcharges.
Coverage	The scheme applies to exports to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Egypt, and Jordan.
Component I	Component I maintains pre-disruption premium rates for ECGC-covered consignments from February 14 to March 15, 2026, with enhanced cover up to 100% for war-related risks.
Component II	Component II provides up to 95% loss coverage for consignments from March 16 to June 15, 2026, and includes exporters obtaining fresh ECGC Whole Turnover Policies after March 16, 2026.
Component III	Component III applies to uninsured MSME exporters and provides a cap of ₹50 lakh per exporter for affected shipments.
External Support	The scheme provides reimbursement assistance for extraordinary freight and insurance surcharge burdens.
Policy Circular	The policy circular clarifies eligibility for new ECGC policyholders under Component II.
Beneficiaries	Beneficiaries comprise MSME exporters, insured exporters, new ECGC policyholders, logistics providers, shipping companies, and the wider export ecosystem.