This week for exporters: 23 Oct to 29 Oct 2026

The most useful change this week is for exporters who use factoring. On 26 October DGFT Trade Notice 32/2026-27 revised the Alternative Trade Instruments (export factoring) support under Niryat Protsahan. The UIN requirement is dropped and claim steps and deadlines are now set. Separately, the textile PLI reopens on 1 November with a lower turnover bar, and the Commerce Minister said the India–Chile trade deal is close to conclusion.

Rule changes

Export factoring support under Niryat Protsahan revised (DGFT, 26 Oct)

DGFT Trade Notice 32/2026-27 of 26 October 2026 updates the guidelines for Alternative Trade Instruments under the Export Promotion Mission. The UIN requirement is dropped and claim steps and deadlines are set. If you factor export receivables, read our alert and the notice itself before your next claim.

Textile PLI Phase 4: applications 1 Nov to 31 Dec 2026 (Ministry of Textiles, 28 Oct)

The Ministry of Textiles is reopening the PLI scheme for MMF apparel, MMF fabric and technical textiles. The portal pli.texmin.gov.in is open from 1 November to 31 December 2026. For Part 2 the minimum turnover falls from Rs 200 crore to Rs 100 crore, and approved Phase 4 applicants get a scheme period to FY 2033-34. The release does not give investment thresholds or incentive rates, so check the guidelines on the portal.

FEMA compounding moves to RBI Regional Offices (RBI, 23 Oct)

RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 28/2026-27 of 23 October 2026 lets RBI Regional Offices compound more FEMA contraventions, covering overseas investment, borrowing and lending, and guarantees. As reported, the compounding fee and rules do not change. This matters to exporters mainly if they have overseas subsidiaries or foreign-currency borrowings that need regularising.

Reminder: RELIEF Component II runs to 31 March 2027

The Department of Commerce publicised the extension again this week, on 26 October. DGFT Notification 37/2026-27 of 30 September 2026 keeps Component II of the RELIEF intervention open to 31 March 2027. As described by the Ministry, it supports ECGC cover for shipments to specified regions affected by the West Asia disruption, with 95% risk cover and the premium protected against increases beyond pre-disruption levels. Standalone and Whole Turnover Policies taken on or after 16 March 2026 are eligible, and energy shipments are excluded.

Trade talks and markets

• Chile, Canada and others: speaking in The Hague on 27 October, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the Chile deal is "quite ripe for conclusion" and Canada is "making very good progress". He also mentioned an early-harvest interest from Mexico, newly started talks with SACU, and GCC talks that may take longer because of the West Asia crisis.
• India–EU FTA: Goyal said on 25 October that the FTA is expected to be operationalised by the end of 2026 and to come into effect in the first quarter of 2027. Signing is still planned for 16 December 2026.
• United States: no change. The 10% Section 301 duty on most Indian goods continues, and the interim trade agreement has not been signed. The US Federal Reserve held its policy rate at 3.75%–4.00% on 28 October, so SOFR-linked PCFC costs should stay broadly steady.
• Containers: on 28 October the Cabinet approved a Rs 10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme to raise domestic container output roughly tenfold (see our news brief).

Deadlines in the next 30 days

Date

What

31 Oct 2026

CBIC's temporary facilitation for transhipment and storage of Hormuz-diverted cargo (Circular 36/2026-Customs of 20 August 2026) runs to this date. As of 29 October we had not found an extension, so forwarders handling such cargo should check with their Customs station.

1 Nov 2026

Textile PLI Phase 4 portal opens (closes 31 Dec 2026).

15 Nov 2026

If you hold ECGC whole-turnover cover, declare invoices that are 30 days or more past due by the 15th of the month, as your policy requires.

Coming up after that: RoDTEP (DGFT Notification 41/2026-27) and RoSCTL both run only to 31 December 2026. Exportsmitra suggests watching for an extension notice in December and keeping track of shipments made in late December.

This week's alerts

• Factoring support under Niryat Protsahan: UIN dropped, claim steps and deadlines set (DGFT Trade Notice 32/2026-27): MSME exporters who factor export invoices no longer need a UIN to claim support under the Alternative Trade Instruments intervention; your IEC is enough. Your factor uploads the data on the DGFT…
• Delegation of Compounding of certain Contraventions under FEMA, 1999 to Regional Offices of the Reserve Bank: RBI/FED/2026-27/298 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular. No 28/2026-27 October 23, 2026 To, All Authorised Dealer Category-I banks and other Authorised Persons Madam / Sir, Delegation of Compounding of…

Sources

• DGFT Trade Notice 32/2026-27 (26 Oct 2026): Alternative Trade Instruments under Niryat Protsahan
• PIB, Ministry of Textiles: PLI scheme portal reopens (28 Oct 2026)
• PIB: Cabinet approves Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (28 Oct 2026)
• DGFT Notification 37/2026-27 (30 Sep 2026): RELIEF Component II timelines
• DGFT Notification 41/2026-27 (30 Sep 2026): RoDTEP to 31 Dec 2026
• CBIC Circular 36/2026-Customs (20 Aug 2026)
• Corplawupdates: RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular 28/2026-27 on FEMA compounding (23 Oct 2026)
• ANI: Department of Commerce extends RELIEF scheme till March 2027 (26 Oct 2026)
• ANI: Chile trade deal nearing conclusion; Canada negotiations gaining pace (27 Oct 2026)
• Free Press Journal: India-EU FTA likely to take effect in Q1 2027 (26 Oct 2026)
• CNBC: Fed holds rates steady (28 Oct 2026)

Last checked: 29 October 2026.

Drafted with AI help from public sources.