DGFT Extends Export Obligation Deadline till 31 August 2026
DGFT Extends Export Obligation Deadline for Advance Authorisation and EPCG Schemes till 31 August 2026
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced a relief measure for exporters by extending the time limit for fulfilling export obligations under certain export promotion schemes.
As per Public Notice No. 51/2025-26 dated 6 March 2026, the Export Obligation (EO) period for specific Advance Authorisations and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Authorisations has been automatically extended up to 31 August 2026.
Authorisations Covered
The extension applies to authorisations where the Export Obligation period or block-wise EO fulfilment period was originally scheduled to expire between 1 March 2026 and 31 May 2026.
The relaxation covers:
- Advance Authorisations
- Advance Authorisations for Annual Requirement
- Special Advance Authorisations
- EPCG Authorisations
No Application or Fee Required
Exporters are not required to file any application or pay any additional fee to avail of this extension. The relaxation will be granted automatically by DGFT.
Reason for the Extension
The decision has been taken considering ongoing geopolitical developments affecting global shipping routes, logistics corridors and international supply chains, which have created operational challenges for exporters.
Existing Extension Provisions Continue
This special relaxation is in addition to the existing provisions under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) and Handbook of Procedures (HBP), which already allow exporters to seek extension of export obligation periods by paying the prescribed fee.
Verification by DGFT Authorities
At the time of issuance of the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) or while processing closure or regularisation of authorisations, the DGFT Regional Authorities will verify whether the exporter has fulfilled the required export obligations.
Customs Authorities Informed
Customs authorities have also been informed to allow exports in accordance with the revised timelines mentioned in the public notice.
Government Support for Exporters
The extension aims to provide operational flexibility to exporters and ensure that temporary disruptions in global trade do not adversely affect India’s export performance or compliance under export promotion schemes.
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