Lok Sabha Question No. 4133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Equalisation Scheme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. Mallu Ravi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4133 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2025

## EQUALISATION SCHEME

## 4133.     DR. MALLU RAVI:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMERCE  AND  INDUSTRY ( ) be  pleased  to state:

(a) whether the Government  has  taken  additional measures, apart from  the Interest Equalisation Scheme, to boost exports during the ongoing global economic slowdown; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which measures will address challenges faced by exporters particularly from Telangana?

## ANSWER

## ( ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) The  Government  has  taken  various  proactive  measures  aimed  at  enhancing  domestic capacities, boosting exports, diversifying supply chains, exploring alternate sources of imports and fostering economic resilience. Several key initiatives and policy measures undertaken by the Government to boost exports, attract investments and to promote ease of doing business from time to time are as under:-

(i) The Foreign Trade Policy  effective  from  April  01,  2023  is  designed  to  integrate  India more effectively into the global market, improve trade competitiveness, and establish the country as a reliable and trusted trade partner.

(ii) Establishment of 65 Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) across the country with an aim to provide  requisite  mentoring  and  handholding  support  to  exporters  especially  MSMEs  in exporting their products and services to foreign markets.

(iii) Assistance being provided through several schemes to promote exports, namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme.

(iv) The Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme to promote labouroriented certain items of textiles sector export has been implemented since March 07, 2019.

(v) Remission  of  Duties  and  Taxes  on  Exported  Products  (RoDTEP)  scheme  has  been implemented since January 01, 2021. The benefit of RoDTEP scheme had also been extended to sectors like steel, pharma and chemicals with effect from December 15, 2022 to enhance export competitiveness  of  these  sectors.  Currently,  10,642  tariff  lines  (8-digit  ITC(HS)  Codes)  are covered under this Scheme. The budget allocation for RoDTEP Scheme for the current financial year 2024-25 is Rs. 16,575 crores. The benefits of the RoDTEP scheme have also been extended to exports from Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units till September 30, 2025.

(vi) A Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilization by exporters.

(vii) Districts as Export Hubs initiative had been launched by identifying products with export potential  in  each  district,  addressing  bottlenecks  for  exporting  these  products  and  supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.

(viii) The  Government  has  launched  the  Trade  Connect  e-Platform  as  an  information  and intermediation  platform  for  international  trade  bringing  together  Indian  Missions  Abroad  and officials  from  Department  of  Commerce  and  other  organisations  to  provide  comprehensive services for both new and existing exporters.

(ix) Active  role of Indian  missions  abroad  towards  promoting  India's  trade,  tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced. Regular monitoring of export performance with Commercial Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards/Authorities and Industry Associations is being done and corrective measures are being taken from time to time.

(x) With the changing trade scenario, India is moving towards having Preferential/Free Trade Agreements (PTA/FTA) wherein customs tariffs and non-tariff barriers are reduced or eliminated on substantial trade items between the PTA/FTA members. At present, India is a member of 13 FTAs and 9 PTAs apart from the negotiations with the EU, the UK, and Oman.

(b) The  above  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government  apply  uniformly  to  all  states, including  the  State  of  Telangana,  and  are  designed  to  address  the  challenges  faced  by  Indian exporters in an equitable and effective manner.

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