CBIC removes ₹10 lakh cap on courier exports to boost e-commerce trade
New Delhi, Mar 31, 2026
Move to boost e-commerce exports and ease logistics as CBIC rolls out wider reforms, including faster clearances and simplified return mechanisms
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has removed the ₹10 lakh value cap per consignment for courier-based commercial exports from April 1, a move aimed at boosting e-commerce shipments, it said on Monday.
The measure is part of a broader set of reforms announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 to streamline courier-based imports and exports, ease logistics bottlenecks, and improve ease of doing business in the fast-growing e-commerce segment.
The removal of the cap is expected to give exporters greater flexibility, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and artisans, who were earlier constrained by shipment limits and often had to route higher-value consignments through conventional air or sea cargo channels.
“Doing away with the cap on e-commerce puts ecommerce and physical exports at par. It will be a game changer for high value merchandise exports like gems and jewellery especially when shipping routes are uncertain,” said Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME).
The change has been notified through amendments to the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations, 1998, and the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010.
In a separate move to ease congestion at international courier terminals, CBIC has introduced a Return to Origin (RTO) mechanism for import consignments that remain uncleared or unclaimed for more than 15 days. Such goods — provided they are not prohibited, restricted or under investigation — can now be sent back to the country of origin through a simplified process, replacing the earlier 30-day disposal timeline.
The board has also eased procedures for the re-import of returned or rejected goods, including those from e-commerce exports, which typically see higher return rates. A risk-based framework has been introduced in place of consignment-wise verification to speed up clearances.
To support these changes, a dedicated return module has been built into the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS), with additional data fields to capture details such as the reason for return, airway bill information, e-commerce status, and adjustment of export benefits where applicable.
[The Business Standard]
