The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on April 17, 2026 expanded the geographical coverage of the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) Scheme to include Egypt and Jordan. Originally launched on March 19, 2026 as part of the Export Promotion Mission, the scheme is a time-bound, targeted intervention designed to mitigate the financial and logistical risks faced by Indian exporters from prolonged geopolitical tensions in West Asia. With a total outlay of ₹497 crore administered through ECGC Limited as the nodal agency, the scheme is structured into three complementary components. Component I provides up to 100 per cent risk coverage for war-related and political losses for existing ECGC policyholders, with premiums frozen at pre-disruption rates. Component II offers a 95 per cent risk backstop to new exporters obtaining fresh ECGC coverage from March 16, 2026 onwards. Component III supports non-insured Micro and Small Enterprises with a 50 per cent reimbursement of extraordinary freight and insurance surcharges, capped at ₹50 lakh per exporter. After today's addition of Egypt and Jordan, the eligible destinations now cover UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan — the full West Asia and Eastern Mediterranean rim. The expansion responds to disruption of trade routes through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea following the wider Israel-Lebanon and Iran-US escalation, and complements the Cabinet's same-day approval of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool to insulate India's shipping sector from war-risk premium spikes.
Government Expands RELIEF Export Support Scheme to Egypt and Jordan on April 17, 2026; Twelve West Asia and North Africa Destinations Now Covered Under ₹497 Crore Outlay
On April 17, 2026 the Ministry of Commerce and Industry extended the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) Scheme to Egypt and Jordan. The ₹497 crore scheme administered by ECGC now covers 12 West Asia and North Africa destinations with three components for war-risk and surcharge support.
Key facts
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry expanded RELIEF Scheme to Egypt and Jordan on April 17, 2026
- RELIEF stands for Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation; launched on March 19, 2026 under Export Promotion Mission
- Total outlay of ₹497 crore administered by ECGC Limited as nodal agency
- Component I gives existing ECGC policyholders up to 100% war-risk coverage with premiums frozen at pre-disruption rates
- Component II offers 95% risk backstop to exporters with fresh ECGC cover from March 16, 2026
- Component III gives non-insured MSMEs 50% reimbursement of extraordinary freight and insurance surcharges, capped at ₹50 lakh per exporter
- Eligible destinations now cover UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan
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Practice MCQ from this story
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With reference to the RELIEF Scheme expansion announced on April 17, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. RELIEF stands for Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. 2. ECGC Limited is the nodal implementing agency for the scheme. 3. The total outlay of the scheme is ₹2,000 crore. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. RELIEF expands to Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation, and ECGC Limited is the nodal agency. Statement 3 is incorrect — the total outlay is ₹497 crore, not ₹2,000 crore. The scheme covers Component I (100% war-risk cover), Component II (95% backstop) and Component III (50% surcharge reimbursement up to ₹50 lakh per MSME exporter).
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Frequently asked questions
What does RELIEF stand for in the context of India's export support scheme?
RELIEF stands for Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. It was launched on March 19, 2026 as part of the Export Promotion Mission and is administered by ECGC Limited as the nodal agency.
Which destinations were added on April 18, 2026 and what is the full list now?
Egypt and Jordan were added on April 17, 2026. The full list of eligible destinations now covers UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan.
What is the total outlay of the RELIEF Scheme and how is it structured?
The total outlay is ₹497 crore. It is divided into Component I (up to 100% war-risk cover for existing ECGC policyholders with frozen premiums), Component II (95% risk backstop for new ECGC policyholders since March 16, 2026), and Component III (50% reimbursement of extraordinary freight and insurance surcharges for non-insured MSMEs, capped at ₹50 lakh per exporter).
Why was the scheme expanded to Egypt and Jordan?
The expansion responds to disruption of trade routes through the Suez Canal and Red Sea after the wider Israel-Lebanon and Iran-US escalation, which has driven up freight and insurance costs on India's North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean shipments.
How does the RELIEF Scheme relate to the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool approved on the same day?
Both decisions were taken on April 18, 2026 to insulate India's external sector from West Asia volatility. The BMI Pool covers insurance on Indian-flagged vessels and India-bound cargo, while the RELIEF Scheme protects exporters' margins by capping war-risk and surcharge exposure.
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