The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has extended the Export Obligation (EO) period for specified Advance Authorisations and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Authorisations until 31 August 2026. The relaxation was introduced through Public Notice No. 51/2025-26 dated 6 March 2026 in view of geopolitical developments disrupting global shipping routes, logistics corridors, and international supply chains. The automatic extension applies to authorisations where the original or extended EO period or block-wise EO period is expiring between 1 March 2026 and 31 May 2026. Exporters are not required to file any separate application, amendment, or pay any composition fee to obtain the benefit. The measure covers Advance Authorisation schemes, including Advance Authorisation for Annual Requirement and Special Advance Authorisation, along with EPCG authorisations. Compliance with EO conditions will be verified by DGFT Regional Authorities at the time of issuing the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC), while Customs authorities will permit exports as per the revised timelines.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DGFT Extends Export Obligation Period for Advance Authorisations and EPCG Authorisations till August 31, 2026
Posted On: 07 MAR 2026 6:18PM by PIB Delhi
In view of the prevailing geopolitical developments impacting global shipping routes, logistics corridors and international supply chains, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has announced a facilitation measure for exporters by extending the Export Obligation (EO) period for certain export promotion schemes.
Through Public Notice No. 51/2025-206 issued on March 06, 2026, DGFT has provided for automatic extension of the Export Obligation (EO) period or Block-wise EO fulfillment period up to August 31, 2026, for specified Advance Authorisations and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Authorisations where the EO period is expiring between March 01, 2026, and May 31, 2026.
The extension shall be granted automatically, and exporters will not be required to submit any separate application or pay any composition fee to avail the benefit. This measure has been introduced to provide additional operational flexibility to exporters facing disruptions arising from current geopolitical developments affecting global trade and logistics.
The relaxation applies to Advance Authorisations, including Advance Authorisation for Annual Requirement and Special Advance Authorisation, as well as EPCG Authorisations. The extension granted under the Public Notice will be in addition to the existing provisions under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) and Handbook of Procedures (HBP), which allow exporters to seek EO period extensions upon payment of prescribed composition fees.
The Regional Authorities of DGFT will verify compliance with the Export Obligation requirements at the time of issuance of the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC), closure, or regularisation of the authorisation.
Customs authorities have also been duly informed through the Public Notice to permit exports in accordance with the revised EO timelines.
This step reflects the Government’s continued commitment to supporting exporters and ensuring that temporary global disruptions do not adversely impact India’s export performance or compliance obligations under export promotion schemes.
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Government of India
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan
Public Notice No. 51/2025-26-DGFT | Dated: 6th of March, 2026
Subject: Extension in the Export Obligation period of specified Advance & EPCG Authorisations till 31.08.2026 – regarding.
In view of the prevailing geopolitical developments affecting global trade and logistics, and with a view to facilitating exporters, the Director General of Foreign Trade, in exercise of the powers conferred under paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time, hereby makes the following amendments in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
2. The following sub-paragraphs are added in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023:
4.40 (I). Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Para 4.40 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023, in respect of all Advance Authorisations, including Advance Authorisation for Annual Requirement and Special Advance Authorisation, where the Export Obligation Period (EOP) (whether original or as extended) is expiring during the period 01.03.2026 to 31.05.2026, the EOP shall stand automatically extended up to 31.08.2026.
5.13(f). Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Para 5.13 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023, in respect of EPCG Authorisations where the Block-wise Export Obligation (EO) period (whether original or as extended) is expiring during the period 01.03.2026 to 31.05.2026, the concerned Block-wise EO period shall stand automatically extended up to 31.08.2026.
5.16 (f). Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Para 5.16 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023, in respect of EPCG Authorisations where the original or extended Export Obligation (EO) period is expiring during the period 01.03.2026 to 31.05.2026, the EO period shall stand automatically extended up to 31.08.2026.
3. The extension of EO period granted by the newly added sub-paragraphs shall be in addition to the extensions otherwise permissible under HBP, 2023.
4. No separate application, composition fee, amendment, or endorsement shall be required to be made or done by the Regional Authorities to avail this automatic extension of EO period.
5. In cases where the Advance Authorisation or EPCG Authorisation Holder has already obtained an extension of EO period upon the payment of the composition fee, the refund of the composition fee shall not be permitted.
6. Customs authorities shall allow exports accordingly. Compliance with Export Obligation (EO) in terms of the above provisions shall be examined by the concerned Regional Authority (RA) at the time of issuance of Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC), closure or regularisation of the authorisation, as applicable.
Effect of this Public Notice: In view of the prevailing geopolitical developments affecting international shipping routes and global supply chains, and with a view to facilitating exporters, the Export Obligation (EO) period / Block-wise EO period in respect of specified Advance Authorisations and EPCG Authorisations expiring between 01.03.2026 and 31.05.2026 has been automatically extended up to 31.08.2026 without payment of composition fee. This relaxation is in addition to the EO extension facility already available under FTP/HBP upon payment of composition fees.
(Lay Agarwal)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India
E-mail: dgft@nic.in
(Issued from File No. 01/94/180/116/AM26/PC-4)
