RELIEF Component II timelines extended up to 31 March 2027 for exporters hit by West Asia disruption: DGFT Notification No. 37/2026-27
DGFT has extended the eligibility and validity criteria under Component II of the RELIEF intervention (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) up to 31 March 2027, for shipments meant for delivery or transshipment under the intervention. Component II is about ECGC cover for shipments to the specified regions.
Key facts
- In force
- Component II criteria extended up to 31 March 2027
- Who it affects
- Exporters shipping to the Gulf and West Asia regions specified under RELIEF, ECGC policyholders
- What it is
- Extended
- Section
- Foreign Trade
- Published
- 30 September 2026
In 30 seconds
- Notification No. 37/2026-27 is dated 30 September 2026 and amends Notification No. 65/2025-26 dated 19 March 2026 and No. 21/2026-27 dated 29 June 2026.
- Para 7.2 of the Annexure to Notification No. 65/2025-26 — eligibility and validity criteria under Component II — stands extended up to 31 March 2027.
- The extension is for shipments meant for delivery or transshipment under the intervention.
- As per the PIB release, Component II encourages exporters to obtain ECGC cover with 95% risk coverage for shipments to the specified regions.
- All other provisions of Notification No. 65/2025-26, as amended, remain unchanged.
हिंदी में सार
DGFT ने Notification 37/2026-27 (30 सितंबर 2026) से RELIEF हस्तक्षेप के Component II की पात्रता और वैधता की समय-सीमा 31 मार्च 2027 तक बढ़ा दी है। PIB के अनुसार Component II में निर्दिष्ट क्षेत्रों को जाने वाले शिपमेंट पर 95% जोखिम कवर के साथ ECGC बीमा को बढ़ावा दिया जाता है और प्रीमियम संकट-पूर्व स्तर से ऊपर नहीं बढ़ता। बाक़ी प्रावधान जस के तस हैं।
What has been extended
RELIEF — Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation — is an intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). By Notification No. 37/2026-27 dated 30 September 2026, the Central Government has amended Notification No. 65/2025-26 dated 19 March 2026 and Notification No. 21/2026-27 dated 29 June 2026.
The operative change is one line: Para 7.2 of the Annexure to Notification No. 65/2025-26, which deals with eligibility and validity criteria under Component II, stands extended up to 31 March 2027 for shipments meant for delivery or transshipment under the intervention. The stated purpose is to enhance utilisation and facilitate trade resilience.
The notification records its effect as support to Indian exporters and mitigation of logistics challenges arising out of the continuing West Asia crisis. All other provisions of Notification No. 65/2025-26, as amended from time to time, remain unchanged.
What Component II covers
The notification itself does not describe Component II. The Press Information Bureau release of 2 October 2026 from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry does:
| Point | As described in the PIB release |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Encourages exporters to obtain ECGC cover for upcoming shipments to the specified regions |
| Risk coverage | 95% |
| Policies covered | Stand Alone Policies or Whole Turnover Policies obtained on or after 16 March 2026 |
| Cargo covered | Full Container Load (FCL), Less than Container Load (LCL) and Reefer containers, excluding energy shipments |
| Premium | The premium paid by exporters is not to be increased beyond the pre-disruption level for the eligible period |
Background given in the release
RELIEF was launched on 19 March 2026 as a targeted, time-bound intervention for Indian exporters affected by extraordinary freight escalation, heightened insurance premia and war-related export risks arising from disruptions in the Gulf and the wider West Asia maritime corridor. The release says the extension has been made in view of the continued geopolitical disruptions in West Asia and their impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf and adjoining regions.
What exporters should do
- If you ship to the regions specified under RELIEF, note that the Component II eligibility and validity criteria now run up to 31 March 2027.
- Read Para 7.2 of the Annexure to Notification No. 65/2025-26 for the criteria themselves; this notification changes only the date.
- The other components and conditions of the intervention are not altered by this notification.
Questions and answers
What is RELIEF?
RELIEF stands for Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. As per the PIB release, it is a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission, launched on 19 March 2026 for exporters affected by freight escalation, higher insurance premia and war-related export risks in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor.
What exactly has been extended?
Para 7.2 of the Annexure to Notification No. 65/2025-26, relating to eligibility and validity criteria under Component II, stands extended up to 31 March 2027 for shipments meant for delivery or transshipment under the intervention.
What does Component II provide?
As per the PIB release, it encourages exporters to obtain ECGC cover for upcoming shipments to the specified regions with 95% risk coverage, and ensures that the premium paid is not increased beyond the pre-disruption level for the eligible period.
Which ECGC policies and cargo are covered?
The release says Stand Alone Policies or Whole Turnover Policies obtained on or after 16 March 2026, for FCL, LCL and Reefer containers, excluding energy shipments.
Published 30 September 2026. Updated 9 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.