Overview

• Exporters from textiles, gems and jewellery, seafood, leather and other sectors met RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Thursday in a two-hour session to seek urgent credit relief.
• They requested a 12‑month pause on principal and interest payments, interest subvention on fresh loans, penalty and NPA‑classification waivers, and one‑time relief from ratings‑related disclosures tied to U.S. exposure.
• FIEO also sought a collateral‑free credit guarantee on the COVID‑era model, preferential dollar sales at the rupee’s REER, and a 2.0–2.5% export sub‑target within banks’ 40% priority sector lending quota for MSMEs.
• The appeals follow U.S. duties reported as high as 50% on about $48 billion of Indian exports, with industry groups warning of production cuts and job losses as orders wobble.
• Sources said banks are pushing back on any loan moratorium, the RBI has not committed to measures, and a Rs 2,250‑crore Export Promotion Mission remains pending government approvals; the central bank may meet lenders next.