The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, November 12, 2025- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met in New Delhi on Wednesday and approved a series of key decisions aimed at boosting exports, supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and enhancing domestic production of critical minerals. The Cabinet also passed a resolution condemning the recent terrorist explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi, reaffirming India’s unwavering policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
The Cabinet approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), first announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, with a total outlay of ₹25,060 crore for a six-year period from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
The Mission will consolidate multiple export-related schemes into a single integrated mechanism, providing focused support to sectors affected by recent global tariff escalations — including textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products.
The EPM will be implemented by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) through a dedicated digital platform and will have two sub-schemes — Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha.
This component aims to make export financing more affordable for MSMEs by:
Providing interest subvention for pre- and post-shipment credit.
Introducing alternative trade instruments such as export factoring and deep-tier financing.
Launching credit cards for e-commerce exporters.
Offering collateral support for export credit to bridge funding gaps.
Supporting exporters entering new or high-risk markets through credit enhancement measures.
The second component focuses on strengthening export infrastructure and compliance readiness by:
Funding testing, certification, and audits to meet global standards.
Supporting market access initiatives such as buyer–seller meets, trade delegations, and product showcases.
Promoting export warehousing and shared logistics infrastructure.
Offsetting inland transport and handling costs in remote districts.
Enhancing export branding and packaging to improve global recognition.
Building digital and institutional trade facilitation systems for MSMEs and district-level clusters.
The Export Promotion Mission is expected to:
Enhance India’s export capacity and competitiveness.
Ensure liquidity for MSMEs at competitive rates.
Boost export readiness through compliance support.
Increase market access for Indian products.
Generate employment across manufacturing, logistics, and allied sectors.
Reduce bottlenecks related to logistics and trade barriers.
The Cabinet also approved an additional ₹20,000 crore credit support for exporters, including MSMEs, under an expanded Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Key features include:
Additional working capital up to 20% of existing export limits.
Collateral-free credit backed by a 100% government guarantee through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).
Validity till March 31, 2026.
This measure will strengthen exporters’ global competitiveness and facilitate entry into new international markets.
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the rationalization of royalty rates for critical minerals such as Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium.
Revised rates include:
Graphite (≥80% carbon): 2% of Average Sale Price (ASP)
Other grades of Graphite: 4% of ASP
Zirconium: 1% of ASP
Rubidium and Caesium: 2% of ASP
These reforms will boost domestic production, reduce import dependence, and strengthen energy and supply chain security, while encouraging new investments in the mining sector.
The Cabinet expressed profound grief over the loss of lives in the terrorist car explosion near the Red Fort on November 10, 2025. Members observed two minutes of silence to honour the victims and adopted a resolution condemning the attack as a heinous act by anti-national forces.
The resolution reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and directed that investigations be pursued with utmost urgency to ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice.
The Cabinet also appreciated the swift response of medical teams, security agencies, and citizens, and acknowledged messages of solidarity from foreign governments.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to national security and public safety, the Cabinet assured that the situation continues to be monitored at the highest levels.
With these decisions, the Cabinet has advanced India’s twin objectives of economic growth and national security — empowering exporters, strengthening critical industries, and reaffirming the nation’s unity against terrorism.
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