SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES (SEZS)

NEWS: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has introduced a one-time relief measure allowing eligible manufacturing units in SEZs to sell goods in the Domestic Tariff Area

About SEZs

• Specifically delineated, duty-free enclaves treated as foreign territory for trade operations and customs duties.
• India has 368 notified SEZs (Feb 2026).
• SEZs are governed by the SEZ Act of 2005 and SEZ Rules of 2006à provide a simplified regulatory framework.

Significance of SEZs

• Attracted ₹7.86 lakh crore in combined domestic and foreign investments as of December 2025.
• Export Growthà Generating ₹11.70 lakh crore by December 2025.
• Over 31.73 lakh jobs by December 2025.
• Infrastructure Developmentà Including Mundra Port, Kandla Port, Sri City, and GIFT City.
• Accelerated high-value manufacturing, research, and technological adoption, particularly in the electronics and semiconductor sectors.
• Established India as a stable and reliable destination for international trade and investment.