Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched the “Ekal Anubandh” initiative to streamline customs processes by introducing a Single All-India Multipurpose Electronic Bond (SEB). This project allows importers and exporters to replace transaction-specific bonds with a unified electronic bond, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency. The SEB, executed electronically via ICEGATE, supports features like digital payment of stamp duty, electronic execution through National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL), and integration with electronic bank guarantees (e-BG). The initiative eliminates the need for physical signatures, notaries, and paperwork, providing real-time management and tracking of bonds and bank guarantees.
The SEB will cover various obligations, such as provisional assessments, export promotion schemes, and warehousing, as specified in existing circulars. A standardized format for SEB and procedures for linking e-BGs are provided. Users can customize obligations and bank guarantee amounts as needed. The initiative aligns with CBIC’s digital-first approach to trade facilitation, ensuring transparency, cost savings, and faster approvals. Implementation will occur in phases, with feedback incorporated to refine the system. Public outreach and guidance for stakeholders will be provided to ensure smooth adoption. Additional details and advisories can be accessed on the ICEGATE portal.
Circular No. 04/2025-Customs
F. No. 450/119/2021-Cus IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
*****
Room No.229A, North Block,
New Delhi, dated 17th February, 2025
To,
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/
Customs (Preventive) / Customs and Central Tax
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/ Customs
(Preventive),
All Principal Director Generals/ Director Generals under CBIC.
Subject: Single Unified Multi-Purpose Electronic Bond in Customs-Ekal Anubandh – reg.
Madam/Sir,
CBIC’s ongoing initiatives to simplify trade processes, improve transparency, and adopt best practices have resulted in steady improvements across various trade facilitation metrics. Leveraging Information technology, many processes have become paperless and contactless, thus providing ease and less time consuming for the trade.
2. In the same direction, to enhance efficiency and reduce the administrative load on businesses, CBIC has decided to introduce a project named “Ekal Anubandh”, wherein trade will be encouraged to use single All-India Multi-purpose Electronic Bond with end-to-end automation. As a first step, single All-India Multipurpose Bond for importers or exporters in lieu of the transaction-wise Bonds being submitted across different ports, thus offering significant potential to save both time and costs in trade procedures.
3.1 At present, importer or exporter submits separate bonds along with security, for every transaction at each port for different scenarios as stipulated in the Board circulars given below:
i. Provisional Assessment Circular No. 38/2016 dt. 22.08.2016 and Circular 42/2020-Customs dated 29.09.2020
ii. Export Promotion Schemes – Circular 11A/2011-Customs dated 25.02.2011
iii. Warehousing under Section 59 – Circular 18/2016-Custom dated 14.05.2016 and Circular 21/2016 – Customs dated 31.07.2016
iv. MOOWR in bonded warehouse under section 65 – Circular 34/2019-Customs dated 01.10.2019
v. MOOWR in Special Warehouse under section 65 vide Circular 36/2020-Customs dated 17.08.2020-Customs.
3.2 The current practice is adding cost and time for the trade and customs and adds to the administrative burden of maintaining physical records. The status and retrieval also pose difficulties.
Single All-India Multipurpose electronic Bond (SEB):
4.1 To overcome above issues and to provide end-to-end digital solution, in lieu of submission of separate bonds, importer or exporter will have an option to submit a Single All-India Multipurpose electronic Bond (SEB) with following features:
(a) Importer/Exporter can choose the obligations, he intends to undertake in the common bond format and submit at any port of importer’s choice electronically at ICEGATE.
(b) Option to include additional obligations or additional amount at the later stage is available at ICEGATE
(c) Electronic Payment of stamp duty and electronic execution of Bond through integration with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) by affixing electronic signature without any requirement for notary.
(d) Online linking End-to-End issued Electronic Bank Guarantee
(e) Verification of Bank Guarantee (BG) issued by issuing Bank
4.2 On the lines of the initiative of ‘Digital Document Execution or DDE` for paperless execution and storage of financial contracts, through M/s N National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) by Department of Financial Services (DFS), digital execution of customs bonds is being enabled. The process of execution of bond electronically including the digital payment of stamp duty is elaborated in Annexure-A. The Importer/exporter executing the bond may ensure that applicable stamp duty is paid.
4.3 In this regard, as clarified earlier vide Circular 11A/2011-Customs dated 25.02.2011 in respect of National Bond for EP Schemes, opinion of Law Ministry regarding the legal implications of a single bond across different customs locations is re-iterated as follows “since the Bond is executed in favour of President of India, the same is enforceable by any authorized Commissioner (Customs)”. Further, it also clarified that, in view of capability to identify the executants and time-stamping of the electronic signatures, there is no further requirement of notaries during SEB execution process.
4.4 Format of the SEB is provided in Annexure-C.
Submission of Bank Guarantee:
5. Along with the execution of Bond, procedure for submission of Bank Guarantees is also being streamlined. For the sake of uniformity, the quantum of Bank Guarantee to be provided in the different instances prescribed earlier through the Board circulars have been collated and made available in Annexure-F. The importer/exporter may also be able to select the quantum of bank guarantee applicable for different purposes like provisional assessment, EP schemes etc. Further, a separate option is also available in case there is a need for having different quantum of bank guarantee other than those specifically listed in Annexure F. The detailed procedure for linking of Bank guarantee with the bond is elaborated in Annexure-B.
6. With electronic bonds and bank guarantees, importers/exporters/customs brokers can manage and track documents in real time, ensuring greater security and transparency throughout transactions. The “Ekal Anubandh” project ensures that above digital solutions are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and more convenient, as they eliminate the need for physical signatures and paperwork, allowing for faster approvals and fewer delays. Therefore, the importers and exporters are encouraged that, wherever required, importers/exporters/customs brokers may execute a single unified multi-purpose electronic bond and electronic bank guarantee.
7. For further details of the e-Bond and e-Bank Guarantee module, detailed Advisories issued by ICEGATE website may be referred to.
8. The Single All-India Multipurpose electronic Bond (SEB) under “Ekal Anubandh” project shall be implemented through detailed advisories being issued by DG Systems in a phased manner. User feedback will be suitably incorporated during implementation.
9. The Chief Commissioners of the Zones may sensitize the officers under their jurisdiction of the above changes to handhold the trade. Necessary Public Notice may be issued and outreach activities conducted with the relevant stakeholders. Difficulties, if any may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Hindi version follows.
Yours sincerely,
Sanjeet Kumar
Under Secretary (Customs IV), Customs Policy Wing
