Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Tel. No.: +91-11-23092849, Fax No.: +91-11-23092890
E-mail : ajit.m@gov.in
D.O. No. 34/CH(IC)/2020
Date: 28th September 2020
As we come to the end of the second quarter of the financial year, and post the fourth unlock phase, we find further signs of recovery in the economy. In my Newsletter dated 21′ September, 2020, I had emphasised that we should re-initiate ‘Revenue Augmentation’ measures. The recovery phase of trade and industry would require a calibrated and pin-pointed nudge from our side, while continuing with our facilitation measures.
A critical role of the facilitator and force multiplier in the revenue augmentation drive is played by the Directorate Generals of Systems & Data Management (Systems) and ARM (Analytics and Risk Management). Both these Directorates, while implementing the departmental projects relating to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and acting as information resource & data management centres, collect and analyse statistics relating to Customs, GST and Central Excise. They not only render technical advice to the CBIC from a statistical standpoint, but also narrow down our revenue collection focus to high-yielding areas.
Various project applications, data, statistics, reports and tools provided by Systems and ARM to the field formations are of far reaching consequence and will alter, in a fundamental way, the manner in which the department delivers its services in times to come. It is in this context that I would like to touch upon some of the aspects of the ACES-GST Application, which would enhance the scope and efficacy of the revenue augmentation measures. Some recent initiatives undertaken by the Directorates on the Customs side will be touched upon in the coming week.
The ACES-GST Application is an in-house effective tool for monitoring of productivity and revenue collection through its Dashboards. Saransh Dashboards’ available under Saksham monitors Log-in by the GST officers into the application. The GST Dashboards’ with several key features including graphical representations of key metrics such as revenue and returns with comparative data across the field formations. Graphical reports can be made for the current FY vis-à-vis previous FY — Zone, Commissionerate and Division wise. In addition, Systems has been providing numerous MIS reports through AIO Dashboards/Daily Emails/Antarang. It has not only brought cohesiveness in monitoring and data analytics of the humongous data being generated in the GST regime but also reduced the physical efforts, which would otherwise be required at the field level. However, some field level officers may not be fully conversant with these tools.
There are as many as four MIS reports on Registration, one on Returns, five on Payments and eleven on Dispute Settlement & Resolution (DSR) module- Adjudication. There are also about sixteen MIS reports on Returns, Refunds and DSR adjudication being shared with the field formations through email. In addition, miscellaneous reports and data such as filing percentages of various GST Returns, Zone-wise and Range-wise targeted data for top taxpayers, etc. Some tools have also been made available in the system to aid the officers such as risk profiling of each registration on few parameters, validation of TRAN-1 credit availability, automated notices, etc.
DGSystems spearheaded by Member (IT) and DG is organising a Webinar on Overview of MIS Reports in ACES-GST Application on 29th September, 2020 from 4:30 PM onwards to cover these aspects in greater detail. All officers and staff especially those administering GST should attend the Webinar. This would help them update themselves about various initiatives of the Systems Directorate and surely help us in our endeavour of revenue augmentation, more so with our limited resources, while facilitating the compliant taxpayers. Senior officers should invariably acquaint themselves with the monitoring dashboards and utility of the reports and data being shared with them for better targeting of resources in revenue augmentation. Every zone should create a dedicated Data Analytics unit, which would help monitor, analyse and drive revenue augmentation measures.
I am happy to share with you the commendable work being done by DRI, Bangalore Zonal Unit, in our journey towards Swachh Bharat. “Vanyadhama — Reaching out for a Swachh Bharat”, a compilation of activities undertaken by the DRI, Bangalore Zonal Unit, showcases their work around the Male Mahadeshwara Hills in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. The effort focuses on the immediate needs of 24 tribal and rural schools of Hanur taluk in the areas of essential sanitation, infrastructure like repair / construction of toilets, installation of RO water purifiers, overhead water tanks, and painting and repair of classrooms. I am told that this endeavour has directly benefited 2,036 children. My congratulations to all the officers involved in the project. It is a timely reminder for all of us, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, to include events of community upliftment in our Swachhta initiatives right through the year. I am sure other formations too would have made similar contributions to society.
The Officer Trainees of the 71st Batch of IRS at NACIN, Faridabad have found a creative way to channelize their energy during these testing times. They have put together The Speaking Order’ a 10 episode series of free-flowing academic discussion on subjects such as sustainable lifestyle, classical Indian arts, physical and mental well-being, poetry, etc. Every aspect of the production has been handled in-house by the Officer Trainees. The series can be viewed on YouTube. I appreciate their initiative.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India has launched an ‘Online PG Diploma Programme in Cyber Law, Cybercrime Investigation & Digital Forensics’. NeGD has curated the programme in association with the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. It spans nine months and aims to train 1000 officials of various ministries in a phased manner. Because of NACIN’s efforts, 100 seats have been allotted to CBIC. To ensure that officers at the cutting edge have the opportunity to gain exposure and professional qualification in this very relevant field, officers of the 70th Batch (60) presently undergoing on-the-job training and Group ‘IV officers (40) have been nominated. The course is to commence from 2nd October, 2020.
I take this opportunity to bid farewell and convey good wishes, on behalf of all of you and on my own personal behalf, to all officers and staff who are superannuating on 30/09/2020. I wish positivity and good health to all officers and staff and their families.
Your Sincerely
(M. Ajit Kumar)
To,
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
