Why in News?
Hybrid outreach program held on March 27, 2026, in New Delhi to educate stakeholders on the scheme, emphasizing faster clearances and MSME inclusion.
Key Information
- Application Start: March 1, 2026.
- Facility Commencement: April 1, 2026.
- Validity: The scheme will remain in force until March 31, 2028.
- Core Benefit: Enables clearing of goods without immediate duty payment, significantly improving working capital and liquidity for manufacturers.
Payment Timeline
- Duties for goods cleared during a month (except March) must be paid by the 1st day of the following month.
- For the month of March, all duties must be paid by March 31.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must have a valid Import-Export Code (IEC).
- Minimum import history: At least 25 EXIM documents filed in the previous year (10 for MSMEs).
- Compliance: Must be GST compliant with no pending returns and have a clean track record with no major investigations (e.g., DRI or SIIB).
- Financial Health: Demonstrated financial solvency and creditworthiness.
- Digital Process: The application is fully digital via the AEO Portal, requiring an authorised nodal person with ICEGATE credentials for transaction authentication.
- Strategic Goal: Acts as a "nudge" for manufacturers to eventually upgrade to AEO T2/T3 status, which offers permanent, long-term deferral benefits.
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