# Centre waives registration for small export consignments up to Rs 3 lakh

2026-09-16T16:07:00+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The government has exempted small exporters from the requirement of obtaining a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for consignments valued up to Rs 3 lakh, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on September 16. The amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy aims to reduce the compliance burden for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, first-time exporters and businesses using e-commerce channels. Data from 2021-22 to 2025-26 shows that consignments worth up to $3,000 accounted for 43% of shipping bills but only 0.86% of India's total merchandise export value. The government stated the exemption will cover a large number of low-value transactions with minimal impact on overall export value. Exporters crossing the Rs 3 lakh threshold must still obtain RCMC from the relevant Export Promotion Council.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both The Hindu and Livemint reported the announcement as a straightforward policy change, with no critical framing. Livemint added a dissenting view from the India SME Forum, which argued that compliance costs should be measured by annual turnover rather than shipment value, and that digital verification makes compulsory industry body membership unnecessary. This critique, absent from The Hindu's report, provides useful context: the exemption is a limited first step, and business groups may push for a broader threshold tied to annual exports, which the government has not yet addressed. The key question is how many small exporters will scale up and re-enter the RCMC system.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/government-removes-registration-requirement-for-small-exporters-in-bid-to-reduce-compliance-burden/article71472482.ece>
  Straight announcement with government data, no external critique
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/small-exporters-rs-3-lakh-rcmc-exemption-dgft-11789559052713.html>
  Straight announcement but includes one critical quote from trade body

Tags: DGFT, Export Promotion Council, Foreign Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, MSME
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