Cabinet approves scheme to rebate central, state embedded levies for textiles industry

08 Mar 2019 Evaluate

With an aim to boost the textile sector and make it globally competitive, the Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for rebate of all state and central embedded levies for apparel and made-up textile segments, which would make shipments zero-rated. Textiles Secretary Raghvendra Singh has said that the decision was needed as incentives for apparel and made-ups under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) were not WTO compatible anymore.

Singh has stated that rates under the Remission of State Levies (RoSL) have been revised upwards for garments and made-ups, and centrally embedded levies outside the ambit of GST have been added to the scheme, which will more than offset incentives not available under MEIS for apparel and made-ups. He noted that the decision assumes importance as shipments from neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam enjoy zero duty access to the EU, which is the biggest export market for India's apparel sector. However, he said “our exports to the European Union have to face a tariff disparity of around 9.6 per cent. We were facing acute competition in this business where profitability is quite marginal.”

Textiles Secretary further said “our endeavour will also be to extend these benefits to exports of fibre, yarn and fabrics. A committee will be set up to examine if similar incentives can be extended to these segments.” According to him, this RoSL for apparel and made-ups will amount to Rs 6,300 crore revenue foregone per annum. He also stated that the inter-ministerial committee as well as the norms committee of the Department of Commerce shall from time to time assess the impact of this decision and tweak it wherever needed. 


© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×