The Merchandise Exports From India Scheme (MEIS) was launched as part of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 to incentivize exports by providing duty credit scrips to exporters. This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), replaced several former export incentive schemes.

MEIS amalgamated previous schemes such as the Focus Market Scheme (FMS), Focus Product Scheme (FPS), Vishesh Krishi Gramin Udyog Yojana (VKGUY), and others, transferring all existing duty credit scrips to MEIS.

Targeting the promotion of goods manufactured in India, the scheme aids in boosting India's export competitiveness. It covers notified goods under various ITC (HS) codes, offering incentives based on the FOB (free-on-board) value of exports in free foreign exchange, with rates ranging from 2% to 5%.

Applicants seeking MEIS benefits need to file form ANF 3A online with a digital signature, along with documents like the DGFT filing application, EDI shipping bills, e-BRC, and RCMC. For EDI ports, hard copies are unnecessary, but retention of original documents for three years is mandated, with submission deadlines based on the Let Export Order (LEO) date among others.

MEIS duty credit scrips are versatile, usable for paying customs duties on imports, and they can be transferred or split, with conditions. The flexibility applies to EDI-enabled ports only.

Approximately 5,000 items qualify for MEIS rewards, with clarity provided by the DGFT on eligible goods. However, certain sectors, like SEZ/EOU/EHTP/FTWZ products exported through DTA, are ineligible.

The MEIS was valid from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2020, under the FTP 2015-20.

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