Contactless Customs
One of the pillars of CBIC’s flagship ‘Turant Customs’ programme, the Contactless Customs initiative leverages technology to obviate the need for a physical interface between Customs authorities and importers/exporters/Customs Brokers/other stakeholders, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the Customs clearance process. Another benefit of replacing the requirement of physically presenting documents by secure electronic messaging and approvals is that of faster authentications, approvals and clearances.
Components of the Contactless Customs initiative:
(a) Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT): SWIFT enables electronic communication between Customs and other Partner Government Agencies (PGAs). The Single Submission of Declaration, Integrated Risk Management and Online NOC module has enabled efficient implementation of allied Acts in the border.
(b) Turant Suvidha Kendra (TSK): TSKs have been established at all Customs formations country wide to provide a range of on-line and off-line services that support Faceless Assessment, another pillar of the Turant Customs programme. These services include acceptance of Original documents, redressing the grievance.
(c) Electronic Registration on Indian Customs and Central Excise Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange Gateway (ICEGATE): A functionality created within ICEGATE allows exporters to make an online request for registration/modification of their AD Code/Bank Account(s) and also electronically submit the Passbook copy or Bank Authorisation letter through e-Sanchit.
(d) Automated Debit of Bond on Indian Customs EDI System (ICES): A functionality within ICES automatically debits the Bond furnished by importers/ exporters, reflecting the same in the first copy of the Bill of Entry. This requires importers/exporters to furnish the details of the Bond while electronically submitting the Bill of Entry.
(e) Simplified Registration of Importers/ Exporters in ICEGATE: The process of registration on ICEGATE has been simplified. Registration can now be done without uploading the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and PAN verification on ICEGATE. Simplified Auto Registration is based on Import Export Code (IEC) and Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) and requires an One Time Password (OTP) verification of e-mail and mobile number. The portal also facilities management of bank accounts, ledger view, IGST Refund status, query reply etc.
(f) ICEDASH: This is a performance measurement initiative where the general public can monitor efficiency of the clearance process on a dashboard of the Indian Customs at various formations. Businesses can accordingly compare clearance times across ports and plan their logistics.
(g) W.e.f 15th July, 2021 Risk Management System has been implemented for processing for Drawback claims to reduce the manual interface and quickly disburse the drawback claims.
(Republished with amendments)
