The Government continuously monitors the impact of geopolitical developments on global maritime trade and logistics through institutional mechanisms involving the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and other concerned Ministries & Departments. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), constituted under the Department of Commerce comprising of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry  of Ports, Shipping  and  Waterways (MoPS&W), Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation,  (MoCA), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Central Board  of Indirect Taxes and  Customs (CBIC),  Export  Credit  Guarantee Corporation  of  India  (ECGC),  Department  for Promotion of Industry and  Internal Trade  (DPIIT), Agricultural & Processed Food Products   Export   Development   Authority   (APEDA),   Department   of   Financial Services (DFS),  and  Container Corporation  Of India  (CONCOR), regularly reviews the evolving situation, assesses its implications for maritime trade and supply chains, and facilitates coordinated action to address emerging challenges.

The review mechanism covers issues relating to international shipping routes, movement of export-import cargo, port operations, logistics, freight and insurance costs, and the continuity of supply chains across sectors dependent on maritime trade. Based on these assessments, the Government has taken a number of coordinated measures to facilitate uninterrupted cargo movement and enhance supply-chain resilience, including operational support at major ports, waiver of ground rent and demurrage charges, facilitation of container evacuation through rail connectivity, trade facilitation measures, and initiatives to reduce logistics costs in coordination with the concerned Ministries, agencies and other stakeholders. Details of the measures taken are attached as Annexure.

 Annexure

The measures taken by Government of India to facilitate uninterrupted cargo movement:

Directorate General of Foreign Trade  (DGFT), under  the Department of Commerce, extended the  export  obligation period for the  Export  Promotion Capital  Goods  (EPCG)   and   Advance   Authorisation  Schemes  which  were expiring between March 01, 2026  and  May 31, 2026,  up to  August 31, 2026 covering 1,017  EPCG  and  7,400  Advance  Authorisations; restored RoDTEP rates;   discharged   export    obligation   of   21,370    EPCG    and    Advance authorisations  through   a   special  drive,  thereby  unlocking  funds  held  in pending  Bank  Guarantees. Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) ran a helpline for exporters; Government allowed gems-and-jewellery import and vaulting in SEZs/FTWZs.

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued clarifications for returned and diverted cargo and extended fee waivers and cargo handling flexibility up to June 30, 2026; Reserve Bank of India (RBI)/ Department of Financial Services (DFS) continued the extended export credit period from 270 to 450 days till June 05, 2026 and introduced Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 for MSME liquidity.

Major Ports gave 100% waiver on ground rent and demurrage and 80% on reefer charges; Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and Railways waived charges on containers held up due to disruptions and commenced double-stack services on the Dedicated Freight Corridor to facilitate the clearance of around 10,000 containers at the ports.

The Cabinet approved a sovereign guarantee of about US$ 1.5 billion for a domestic maritime insurance pool, reducing the cost of freight and insurance for exports.

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) activated an emergency cell and issued the LPG Control Order and the Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order.

The Department   of   Revenue   reduced   basic   customs   duty   on   40   critical petrochemical products to zero till July 15, 2026.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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MI/Indu

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