In an August 2025 newsletter, the Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, discussed a few topics. He noted that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a crucial component of India’s economic independence and that the government plans to introduce the “next generation of reforms” to make GST a simpler and more transparent system. Additionally, the newsletter highlighted CBIC’s achievement of ranking first for grievance redressal in the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) report for July 2025. This is the third time CBIC has received this distinction. The letter also detailed a case of tax evasion where officers from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) in Gurugram uncovered a firm illicitly using subsidized Agricultural Grade Urea (AGU) to manufacture Urea Formaldehyde Resin. The investigation led to the sealing of a dealer’s godown and a report to the Haryana State Agriculture Department.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 33/News Letter/CH(IC)/2025 Dated: 18th August, 2025
Dear, Colleague,
In his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, the Hon’ble Prime Minister highlighted that the bedrock of a Viksit Bharat is an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. As a sine qua non for strengthening India’s economic independence and capability, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented in 2017. GST has already enabled India to break free from the shackles of a fragmented indirect tax regime, and the announcement of next generation of reforms – anchored on structural reforms, rate rationalisation, and ease of living seeks to further extend these gains to every section of society, particularly the common man, women, students, the middle class, and farmers. It is evident that the Government remains steadfast in its resolve to refine GST into a simple, stable, and transparent tax system.
CBIC ranks No. 1 yet again! As per the 39th CPGRAMS Report of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for the month of July 2025, CBIC has secured the first position in the Group A category (>500 grievances/month) of GRAI rankings for grievance redressal. This distinction, third time for CBIC, is a reflection of the sustained focus and hard work of DGTS and all formations across the country in monitoring and addressing grievances with diligence and sensitivity. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the concerned for their dedicated efforts, and urge them to continue serving taxpayers with transparency, trust, and efficiency.
Agriculture Grade Urea (AGU) is a widely used fertilizer which is made available to the farmers at highly subsidized rates by the Government. However, since urea also has industrial applications, AGU is prone to diversion due to the cost differential. Such diversion not only affects the availability of this critical agricultural input for the farming community but also results in tax evasion. The officers of DGGI Gurugram Zonal Unit, acting on intelligence, carried out a search at the factory premises of a firm and recovered 288 bags (13 MT) of neem-coated AGU being illicitly used in the manufacture of Urea Formaldehyde Resin (UF Resin). Following the trail, the godown of the dealer supplying AGU was sealed, and the matter has been reported to the State Agriculture Department of Haryana for taking appropriate action. Commendable detection and it is hoped that the investigation will uncover the full supply chain and the extent of diversion!
Till next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs.
