RELIEF export-support scheme expanded to Egypt and Jordan

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified the addition of Egypt and Jordan to the list of eligible destinations under the RELIEF scheme – Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. The expansion, effective from 17 April 2026, was widely featured in current-affairs material around 22 April. The scheme runs under the umbrella Export Promotion Mission and was originally launched on 19 March 2026.

RELIEF is a time-bound, targeted intervention designed to absorb the shock of extraordinary war-risk surcharges, freight hikes and insurance spikes in West Asia. With ECGC Limited (the former Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India) acting as the nodal agency, the scheme reimburses 50% of qualifying extraordinary freight and insurance surcharges, capped at Rs 50 lakh per exporter to spread benefits widely. After the latest notification, eligible destinations cover the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan.

Egypt and Jordan are key transit and consumer markets for Indian goods such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, agricultural produce and engineering products. Disruption around the Suez Canal and the Red Sea has pushed up war-risk premiums on routes serving these countries. By absorbing part of those costs, the government hopes to keep Indian exports competitive and protect MSME exporters who lack the bargaining power of larger firms.

Exam angle: Remember the full form of RELIEF, the nodal agency (ECGC), the regulator (DGFT under Ministry of Commerce and Industry), the reimbursement rate (50%), the per-exporter cap (Rs 50 lakh) and the updated list of 12 eligible destinations. UPSC and Banking GA often link this scheme with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.