Indian merchandise exports showed remarkable resilience by reaching $43.81 billion in August, but new US tariff threats have quickly overshadowed these gains. Given that cheaper Russian crude keeps general production costs low across the economy, experts suggest India is unlikely to stop purchasing Russian oil merely to satisfy US mandates. Consequently, Indian exporters are being advised to front-load shipments, renegotiate buyer contracts, and aggressively tap into non-US markets. On a positive note, India’s exports to core BRICS economies (China, South Africa, Brazil, and Russia) surged by 34% to $19.9 billion during the April-August period. Shipments to China jumped 39%, while South Africa registered the fastest growth at 58%. To further support domestic industries, the Indian government is planning to extend the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme beyond September 30. Industry bodies like ASSOCHAM are urging the government to double the scheme’s outlay to ₹10,000 crore to ensure policy continuity and long-term investment predictability in the textile sector.