Lok Sabha Question No. 1687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Export of Tribal Manufactured Goods
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Tatkare Sunil Dattatrey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1687 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## EXPORT OF TRIBAL MANUFACTURED GOODS

1687. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken or is planning to take initiatives to boost the exports of goods manufactured by tribal people, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Ministry has any data regarding export of goods made in tribal areas;
- (c) if  so,  the  currency value of goods exported and major types of goods being exported; and
- (d) whether  any  initiatives  have  been  taken  to  make  it  convenient  for  tribal entrepreneurs to access credit and investor networks specific to the State of Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a)  The Government of India continues to monitor and take initiatives to promote India's exports. The details of initiatives taken in this regard are as follows:-
- A.  The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), under  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  been  implementing  'Pradhan  Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission' (PMJVM) scheme. Under PMJVM, TRIFED is engaged in marketing, providing infrastructure development, research and development, etc. for tribal products. It is also taking initiatives for promoting tribal products in international  markets  by  setting  up  'Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Corners'  in  Indian embassies and consulates across more than 65 countries. TRIFED has been organizing promotional events with Indian missions in other countries.
- B.  Further, the Department of Commerce is actively engaged with all stakeholders - including State Governments, Exporters, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), Industry, Traders, Manufacturers to boost exports. Following export promotion initiatives have been taken by the Government to boost India's exports :
- i. New Foreign Trade Policy was launched on 31st March, 2023 and it came into effect from 1 st  April, 2023.
- ii. Export Promotion Mission (EPM): The Mission will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion, with a total outlay

of Rs. 25,060 crore for FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31. EPM marks a strategic shift  from  multiple  fragmented  schemes  to  a  single,  outcome-  based,  and adaptive mechanism that can respond swiftly to global trade challenges and evolving exporter needs. The Mission will operate through two integrated subschemes:

- a. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN - focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance  for  MSMEs  through  a  range  of  instruments  such  as  interest subvention,  export  factoring,  collateral  guarantees,  credit  cards  for  ecommerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.
- b. NIRYAT DISHA - focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation  in  trade  fairs,  export  warehousing  and  logistics,  inland transport  reimbursements,  and  trade  intelligence  and  capacity-building initiatives.

The  Mission  is  designed  to  directly  address  structural  challenges  that constrain Indian exports, including:

-  limited and expensive trade finance access,
-  high cost of compliance with international export standards,
-  inadequate  export  branding  and  fragmented  market  access, and
-  logistical disadvantages for exporters in interior and low-export intensity regions.
- iii. Assistance  provided  through  several  schemes  to  promote  exports,  namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES).
- iv. Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme to promote labour oriented sector export has been implemented since 07.03.2019.
- v. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme has been implemented since 01.01.2021.
- vi. Leveraging Free Trade Agreements: The Government aims for promotion of Export Diversification and has signed 15 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and 6 Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with its trading partners. Government is  working  with  all  stakeholders to  enable our exporters to better utilize the benefits of India's FTAs with major markets such as Japan, Korea, UAE etc. and effectively utilize the opportunities that have been created with the recent concluded  FTAs  such  as  with  the  EFTA  countries,  UK,  Oman  and  New Zealand. The Government has also recently signed India- EU FTA also.
- vii. Common  Digital  Platform  for  Certificate  of  Origin  has  been  launched  to facilitate  trade  and  increase  Free  Trade  Agreement  (FTA)  utilization  by exporters.
- viii. Districts as Export Hubs initiative has 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.
- ix. Regular monitoring of export performance with Commercial Missions abroad, Export  Promotion  Councils,  Commodity  Boards/  Authorities  and  Industry Associations and taking corrective measures from time to time.

(b) and (c)  India's total merchandise exports during FY 2024-25 was USD 437.70 Billion. The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry does not maintain any specific data with respect to export of goods made in tribal areas.

(d)  Details of the initiatives taken to make it convenient for tribal entrepreneurs to access credit and investor networks are as follows:-

1.  National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is an apex organisation set up exclusively for economic development of Scheduled Tribes. NSTFDC extends concessional loans to the eligible Scheduled  Tribe persons  for undertaking  income generation activities/ self-employment including education loan scheme through its implementing agencies. Some of the Schemes are as under:
2.  Term Loan Scheme: NSTFDC provides Term Loan for viable projects costing upto ₹50.00 lakh per unit. Under the scheme, financial assistance is extended upto 90% of the cost of the project and the balance is met by way of subsidy/ promoter contribution/ margin money.
3.  Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY): Under the scheme, NSTFDC provides  loan  upto  90%  for  projects  costing  upto  ₹2  lakh  Scheduled  Tribes women.
4.  Micro  Credit  Scheme  for  Self  Help  Groups  (MCF) :  This  is  an  exclusive scheme for Self Help Groups for meeting small loan requirement of ST member. Under the scheme, the Corporation provides loans upto ₹50,000/- per member and maximum ₹5 lakh per Self Help Group (SHG).
2. Credit  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Exporters has  also  been  approved  by  the Government to  provide  100%  credit  guarantee  coverage  by  National  Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for extending additional collateral free credit facilities up to Rs. 20,000 crore  to  eligible  exporters,  including  MSMEs.  The  Scheme  is  expected  to enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters and support diversification into new and emerging markets.
3.  ECGC  Ltd.  (formerly  Export  Credit  Guarantee  Corporation  of  India  Ltd.)  is providing credit insurance covers to exporters against non-payment risks by the overseas buyers, empowering Indian exporters, including tribal entrepreneurs, to  venture  into  global  markets  with  confidence.  ECGC  also  provides  Export Credit Insurance Covers for Banks (ECIB) against risks in export credit lending to  the  exporter-borrowers.  The  ECIB  covers  facilitate  the  availability  of affordable and adequate credit to the exporters. The Company is headquartered in Mumbai with four regional offices and 46 branch offices panIndia including five in Maharashtra.

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