A time-bound DGFT campaign drives record EODC clearances, unlocking liquidity and easing compliance for exporters nationwide

In a decisive stride toward refining its trade architecture, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has brought to a successful close a high-impact, time-bound campaign aimed at expediting the issuance of Export Obligation Discharge Certificates (EODCs)—a cornerstone instrument in India’s export compliance framework.

Conducted over the course of March 2026, this Special Drive has emerged as a powerful testament to administrative agility and policy intent, delivering a remarkable surge in approvals under both the Advance Authorisation (AA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) schemes. The initiative, closely supervised through daily high-level reviews, reflects a meticulous orchestration of institutional effort across DGFT’s regional network.

EODCs, long regarded as vital for the formal closure of export obligations, play a transformative role in unlocking working capital by enabling the release of bank guarantees and bonds. Their timely issuance not only alleviates compliance burdens but also fortifies confidence among exporters navigating India’s evolving trade ecosystem.

The results of the campaign are striking. March 2026 witnessed the approval of 12,690 EODCs—an emphatic leap from 3,747 approvals in February—marking a more than threefold increase. Under the AA scheme, approvals soared by 242 percent, while the EPCG scheme recorded a 234 percent rise, underscoring the campaign’s sweeping impact.

Beyond headline numbers, the initiative delivered substantive structural gains. Nearly 59 percent of pending cases under the AA scheme and 54 percent under EPCG were cleared within the month, sharply reducing backlog pressures. Processing efficiency reached near-complete levels, with 97 percent of AA cases and 98 percent of EPCG cases addressed during the period.

Perhaps most notably, the campaign drove a dramatic contraction in in-progress cases—from 15,360 at the start of March to just 3,966 by April 1—achieved even as thousands of new applications entered the pipeline. This 74 percent reduction signals not merely incremental progress, but a systemic unclogging of procedural bottlenecks.

Encouraged by these outcomes, authorities have extended the Special Drive through May 31, 2026, reinforcing their commitment to sustained efficiency gains. The continuation of this initiative is poised to further streamline compliance processes, enhance liquidity for exporters, and reduce grievance burdens across sectors.

In a global trade environment where speed, transparency, and reliability define competitiveness, this landmark intervention by the DGFT exemplifies India’s resolve to cultivate an exporter-friendly ecosystem. By marrying policy precision with executional rigor, the country moves closer to its ambition of becoming a seamless and trusted hub in the international trading order.