Historical DGFT export incentive scheme (2015-2020), replaced by RoDTEP in 2021. Still queried by exporters looking at pre-2021 records.
Definition
MEIS — Merchandise Exports from India Scheme — was a DGFT export incentive scheme active from 2015 to 2020 that reimbursed Indian exporters as a percentage of FOB value in the form of freely transferable duty-credit scrips. It was discontinued from 1 January 2021 and effectively replaced by RoDTEP.
How it worked (historical)
Rates: 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, or 7% of FOB depending on product-HS-code-country combination
Higher rates for high-value-addition products and specific target markets
Scrips were freely transferable — could be used to offset customs duties on imports or sold in the market
Why MEIS was withdrawn
WTO challenged MEIS as being an export subsidy contravening SCM Agreement
India lost the WTO ruling in 2019
MEIS was withdrawn from 1 Jan 2021 and replaced with RoDTEP (which is structured as a tax remission, not a subsidy — WTO-compliant)
Current status
No new MEIS claims are accepted for shipping bills post 31 Dec 2020
Legacy MEIS claims for pre-cutoff shipping bills can still be processed subject to DGFT's transition timelines (most now expired)
For all current exports: use RoDTEP or ROSCTL as applicable
For Indian FBA exporters
MEIS is historical. If you started exporting via FBA post-2021, MEIS never applied to you. If you have historical shipping bills where MEIS was claimed and want to reference them for tax or audit purposes, the claim data is on the DGFT portal.
For the current scheme, see RoDTEP. For apparel/textiles, ROSCTL is the current scheme.