After Import substitution strategy in the early sixties, inward-looking policies are relaxed and exports are promoted through selective import flexibility worldwide. Though India started its liberalization measures since 1991 it has its export promoting measures (though inadequate) since nineteen sixty in the form of Export Processing Zones and in the form of Export Oriented Units since nineteen eighties. The important objectives of the study is to analyze the role of export promotion zones in India, to find out the share of Special Economic Zones export in India’s total export and to study the India’s Export Promotion Schemes. As a policy means of achieving greater economic openness and growth, the concept of export processing zones (EPZ) has gained noticeable significance during the past few decades. To break away from an inward-looking growth path, to facilitate international flows of trade, capital and technology, and to hasten the pace of economic development and structural transformation, the opening of the EPZs has been taken as the first, albeit partial, step in that direction in India.

KEYWORDS: Special Economic Zones, Liberalisation and Growth Rate