The 76th Republic Day parade celebrated 75 years of India’s Constitution with military displays and cultural tableaux, reflecting India’s progress. CBIC announced regular promotions for IRS (C&IT) officers of 2009–2012 batches in NFSG, with the 2012 batch receiving direct regular promotions, a first in over two decades. The Swachhta Awards recognized CBIC offices excelling in cleanliness, furthering the Swachh Bharat vision. CBIC was also acknowledged as a top-performing organization on the iGOT Karmayogi platform for 2024, showcasing its commitment to a citizen-centric civil service. Additionally, Chennai Customs detained a consignment misdeclared as watch accessories, uncovering 253 drones, 10,000 walkie-talkie sets, and 5,150 VR 3D devices worth ₹5.4 crore. These prohibited items were seized, and two individuals were arrested.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 04/News Letter/CH(IC)/2025 Dated: 27th January, 2025
Dear Colleague,
The 76th Republic Day parade in New Delhi unfolded under the resplendent clear skies and bright sunshine, creating a perfect setting to commemorate 75 years of the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. The grand parade showcased the nation’s burgeoning military might, cultural diversity, and technological advancements, giving us a glimpse of Swarnim Bharat. From the precise march of military contingents to the vibrant tableaux depicting the rich cultural heritage of different States and Union Territories, every element symbolized the power and pride of an emerging India on the global stage, inspiring a sense of patriotism and collective identity.
Last week, CBIC conducted the screening for granting regular promotions to officers of the 2009-2012 batches of IRS (C86IT) in Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). Notably, the 2012 batch will become the first batch in over two decades to receive this promotion to NFSG directly on a regular basis. In contrast, earlier batches were promoted to NFSG on an ad-hoc basis, which was subsequently regularized. This development marks an important step towards streamlining promotion processes and overall human resource management. Of course, the tireless efforts of the Board and DGHRM have borne fruit.
As you are aware, the Swachhta Awards to the best performing Zones/Directorates of CBIC for the Financial year 2023-24 have been announced. These awards recognize notable achievements in cleanliness initiatives across CBIC offices. I extend heartiest congratulations to all the award winning formations and deeply appreciate the steadfast commitment of all the formations towards the vision of Swachh Bharat. DGHRM also deserves a special mention for coordinating the Swachhta projects. Every contribution, no matter how small, plays a vital role in creating a working environment we can all take pride in.
It is a moment of pride for CBIC to be recognized as one of the top-performing Ministries, Departments, and Organizations (MDOs) on the iGOT Karmayogi platform for the year 2024. By aligning with the vision of Mission Karmayogi, CBIC has demonstrated its dedication to building a future-ready, citizen-centric civil service that meets the evolving needs of a dynamic and progressive India.
Acting on specific intelligence, a consignment declared to contain watch accessories and straps was detained by the SIIB, Chennai, for a detailed examination. Upon thorough scrutiny, officials found a total of 253 high-quality drones, 10,000 walkie-talkie sets, and 5,150 VR 3D devices ingeniously concealed among the declared goods. As per DGFT Policy, the import of specific type of drones is prohibited, while the import of walkie-talkies without a license is restricted. The contraband, valued at approximately Rs. 5.4 crore, was seized and two persons involved in smuggling have been arrested. Kudos to the team!
Until next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs.
