Centre Launches ₹4,531 Crore Market Access Support Scheme for Exporters

The Central Government has launched a ₹4,531 crore Market Access Support (MAS) scheme for exporters for the period FY26 to FY31. The scheme has been introduced under the ₹25,060 crore export promotion mission cleared by the Union Cabinet in November.  

It is intended to support exporters’ participation in overseas market development activities over a defined 6-year window. 

Budget Allocation  

For FY26, the government has set aside ₹500 crore under the scheme. Reports suggest arrears of around ₹330 crore related to earlier commitments will be cleared at the start of implementation.  

The remaining funds will be released in phases over the six-year period, depending on approved activities and utilisation. 

Target Segments and Sector Coverage 

The MAS scheme is expected to benefit first-time exporters and firms operating in priority sectors such as agriculture, leather, handlooms, toys, and MSMEs.  

The focus is on widening the beneficiary base and improving access for smaller exporters, rather than concentrating support among a limited number of large firms. 

Activities Eligible for Support 

Financial and institutional support will be provided for participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, mega reverse buyer-seller meets organised in India, and trade delegations to identified export markets.  

A rolling 3-to-5-year calendar of key market access events will be prepared in advance to allow exporters and organising bodies to plan participation. 

Participation Norms and Cost Sharing 

A minimum participation of 35% MSMEs has been set for events supported under the scheme. Smaller markets and new export destinations will receive priority to encourage diversification.  

Delegation sizes have been fixed at a minimum of 50 participants, with flexibility allowed depending on market conditions and relevance. 

Support for Small Exporters 

Exporters with turnover of up to ₹75 lakh in the previous financial year will be eligible for partial airfare support to enable participation in overseas events.  

Event-level financial ceilings and cost-sharing ratios have been rationalised, with relatively higher support available for priority sectors and markets. 

Policy Context and Monitoring 

As per news reports, officials stated that the scheme addresses long-standing market access challenges and is not linked to recent tariff actions by the United States.  

An index will be developed to track exporter performance during the scheme period. The government reiterated its shift away from export subsidies, relying instead on remission schemes such as RoDTEP and RoSCTL. 

Read More: India Becomes Top Solar Supplier to US, Exporting 97% of Modules Between FY23-25! 

Conclusion 

The Market Access Support scheme sets out a 6-year framework for export promotion with defined funding and participation norms. Implementation will be spread across FY26-FY31 through approved market access activities. 

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