CEPC - Carpet Export Promotion Council

The registration process for Carpet Export Promotion Council membership in 2025 is simple. An exporter of carpets, rugs, or handmade floor coverings must apply under RCMC with CEPC by submitting documents and paying fees. Once verified, CEPC grants membership that is valid for a fixed period.

The Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) is set up by Indian Government. CEPC was created to support exporters of handmade carpets, rugs, durries and floor coverings. CEPC makes sure Indian handmade carpets are promoted in global markets.

RCMC stands for Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. Every exporter of carpets, rugs, and floor coverings must register with CEPC under RCMC. This certificate confirms that the exporter is a member of the Carpet Export Promotion Council.

The RCMC certificate is issued under India’s Foreign Trade Policy. It is a mandatory requirement for exporters to claim benefits under export promotion schemes. For carpet exporters, CEPC is the council that issues this certificate.

When an exporter applies for CEPC registration, they provides business details, product information, and documents. The council verifies the application and then issues the RCMC. Without RCMC, exporters cannot avail any benefits related to duty, incentives, or participation in trade events.

Some of the main roles of CEPC are:

• Promotion: CEPC organizes trade fairs, buyer-seller meets and Indian and abroad exhibitions
• Support: It helps members understand foreign trade policies and export rules.
• Training: CEPC arranges training programs for artisans and exporters. It helps improve quality and design
• Research: The council studies global demand and helps exporters adapt to market needs
• Liaison: It is a bridge between exporters and the Ministry of Textiles

Exporters get many benefits when they become members of the Carpet Export Promotion Council. The membership is more than a legal requirement. It gives a range of advantages that help exporters grow their business.

• Global Promotion: CEPC advertises the products of members in international Fairs
• Market Access: Membership offers an entry into the state-supported export initiatives and policies
• Financial Incentives: Incentives given to exporters include duty drawback, tax rebates and incentives under the Foreign Trade Policy
• Networking Opportunities: CEPC facilitates buyer-seller meets. It give exposure to exporters 
• Training and Development: Exporters and artisans are made aware of emerging trends, design and technology
• Credibility: Belonging to CEPC increases the credibility of the system in the foreign buyers. 

Not every business can apply for CEPC membership. Certain eligibility criteria must be met.

The main eligibility conditions are:

1. The applicant must be a manufacturer or exporter of handmade carpets, rugs, durries or related products
2. The applicant must have a valid Import Export Code (IEC) issued by DGFT
3. The business should be registered under the Companies Act, Partnership Act or as a proprietorship
4. The applicant must comply with government trade policies and quality standards

To become a CEPC member an exporter must follow a step-by-step process. The steps are simple but must be completed carefully

1. Prepare Documents: Collect all necessary documents such as IEC, business registration certificate and identity proof
2. Application Form: Fill out the CEPC membership application form. Download this form from the CEPC official website.
3. Submit Fees: Pay the prescribed membership fees through bank draft or online transfer.
4. Verification: CEPC will check the documents and application details.
5. Grant of Membership: After successful verification, CEPC issues the RCMC certificate to the exporter.

The exporter must submit several documents along with the application form. These documents act as proof of business and identity

• Import Export Code (IEC)
• Company Registration Certificate
• PAN Card of Company/Proprietor
• GST Registration Certificate
• Address Proof of Business
• Bank Certificate
• Partnership Deed/MOA & AOA
• Photograph of Proprietor/Partners/Directors

The registration process for CEPC membership is systematic. It has been designed to ensure that only genuine exporters of carpets and rugs are granted recognition. The steps are easy but every detail must be correct for approval

Step 1 – Application Form

The exporter has to fill the application form for RCMC. The form is available on the CEPC official portal. Details like name of company, IEC number, GST details, and product category must be filled.

Step 2 – Attach Documents

Attach the documents to the application. Scanned copies are accepted if applying online. Each document must be self-attested and valid.

Step 3 – Payment of Fees

The prescribed membership fee has to be paid. CEPC accepts payment by demand draft, cheque, or online transfer. The fee depends on the category of membership

Step 4 – Verification by CEPC

The CEPC office checks the documents and verifies the details provided by the exporter. If there are any mistakes, CEPC may ask for corrections

Step 5 – Issue of RCMC

Once verification is done, CEPC issues the Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate. The exporter then becomes an official member of CEPC.

The fee is charged yearly, and payment must be made during application

Category	Membership Fee (Approx.)	Other Charges
Manufacturer Exporter	₹ 10,000 – ₹ 12,000	GST applicable
Merchant Exporter	₹ 7,000 – ₹ 8,000	GST applicable
Small Scale Exporter	₹ 5,000 – ₹ 6,000	GST applicable

CEPC members can avail various schemes that support them in exporting. These schemes are designed by the Government of India to promote Indian handmade carpets across the world

• Market Development Assistance (MDA) - Financing to attend fairs, exhibitions and buyer-seller meet event in other markets
• Market Access Initiative (MAI) -The scheme assists the exporters when it comes to marketing, publicity and international branding
• Duty Drawback Scheme- Drawbacks can be claimed by exporters on their duty payment on their imported raw materials used in carpets
• Incentive Schemes Incentive schemes (The benefits of which are available to CEPC members) include RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products)
• Skill Development Programs-CEPC organizes training sessions to the weavers and craft workers to enhance their skills and to learn to embrace new designs

The time taken to get CEPC membership depends on how complete and accurate the application is. Normally it takes around 15 to 20 working days from the date of submission

• If documents are clear and fee is paid membership is granted within 2–3 weeks
• If there are discrepancies, CEPC may ask for corrections. In such cases the process can take longer
• Online applications usually move faster as they reduce manual verification delays

The CEPC membership is valid for five years from the date of issue. Exporters must renew the membership after the validity period to continue availing benefits.

Renewal Process

• The exporter has to submit a renewal application before expiry.
• Updated documents like GST return, IEC, and address proof must be provided.
• Renewal fee must be paid along with application.

Many exporters face difficulty in preparing documents and following the CEPC registration process. In such cases, professional consultants like Agile Regulatory play an important role.

Agile Regulatory provides complete assistance in:

• Preparing documents for CEPC membership.
• Filing the application correctly.
• Liaising with CEPC for verification and approval.
• Guiding exporters on government schemes