Registration on ICEGATE required for stakeholders to comply with new sea cargo manifest regulations; testing and format compliance mandated.
Registration on ICEGATE is mandatory for stakeholders to operate under the Sea Cargo Manifest Regulations (SCMTR); applicants must apply from within their ICEGATE login and, if performing multiple roles, apply separately for each entity type. A testing phase requires submission of new-format manifests in parallel with existing formats; a table specifies entity categories, required messages, and specific prerequisites such as National Surety Bond registration and ICEGATE MFTP onboarding. Some registrations are auto-approved while others require officer approval; queries are answered online though additional documents must be provided manually. A checklist and dashboard are provided and a contact is listed for difficulties.

Customs boundary amendment permits expansion and alteration of an inland container depot's customs area under specified Customs Act provisions.
Revised limits of the customs area for The Thar Dry Port, an Inland Container Depot at Pal, Jodhpur, are specified for the North, East, South and West by reference to boundary walls adjoining identified khasra numbers, roads and open spaces. The Custodian sought changes in the boundary wall and an increase in customs area under the Customs Act, 1962, and is authorised to alter the boundary wall of the specified area under regulation 6(I)(n) of the HCCAR, 2009.

Importers and exporters: beneficiary uploads to e-SANCHIT end; PGAs must upload LPCOs and use ICEGATE emails for IRNs.
PGAs are enabled to upload digitally signed Licenses, Permits, Certificates and Other Authorizations (LPCOs) onto the e-SANCHIT platform via SWIFT at all customs locations; from 31.01.2020 beneficiaries cannot upload prior LPCOs, so PGAs must upload LPCOs issued in the preceding 15 days and may upload earlier LPCOs to enable beneficiary use, and PGAs will communicate IRNs and LPCO information to beneficiaries via e-mail addresses registered in ICEGATE.

PGA e-SANCHIT: beneficiary uploads disabled; PGAs must upload LPCOs and ensure correct ICEGATE email communication.
Implementation of PGA e-SANCHIT mandates electronic submission of Licenses/Permits/Certificates/Other Authorizations (LPCOs) by Participating Government Agencies to enable paperless customs processing. Four additional PGAs have been integrated onto the e-SANCHIT platform. The facility for beneficiaries to self-upload previously issued LPCOs will be deactivated from the announced cut-off; PGAs must upload LPCOs issued during the recent pre-cut-off period and ensure correct beneficiary email addresses are recorded in ICEGATE for communication and viewing.

24x7 Customs clearance expanded to extend assessment, examination and laboratory hours to mitigate congestion and delays.
Extended 24x7 operational measures at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva: expansion of working hours for all Assessment Groups, examination officers and Out of Charge procedures at CFSs, and continuous operation of the Customs laboratory to expedite test results. Specific contact persons and telephone numbers are provided for examination and assessment issues, and stakeholders may send feedback by email. The measures are to be treated as a Standing Order for officers.

E-waste management requires bulk consumers to use authorised channels, retain records, and submit annual compliance returns.
E-waste management requires bulk consumers to channel end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment through authorised collection, take-back, dismantling, or recycling routes; maintain Form 2 records; prevent mixing with radioactive e-waste; and file Form 3 annual returns by 30 June following the relevant financial year. Multiple offices in one State may submit one consolidated annual return.

Social Welfare Surcharge liability affirmed on imports paid via export incentive scrips; surcharge must be paid in cash, past scrip debits preserved.
The notice states that Social Welfare Surcharge is chargeable on imported goods even when Basic and Additional Customs Duties are debited to duty credit scrips under export incentive schemes; debit of SWS through duty credit scrips is not envisaged by the Foreign Trade Policy or exemption notifications, so SWS must be paid in cash going forward, while past debits to scrips will be accepted and not recovered in cash.

Import of gifts via courier prohibited except lifesaving medicines and Rakhi; otherwise gifts admissible only on payment of duties.
Import of goods presented as gifts through post or courier is prohibited except for lifesaving drugs/medicines and Rakhi; such consignments seeking the gift exemption are disallowed but may be imported on payment of full applicable duties as personal imports. Lifesaving drugs and Rakhi remain eligible for the notified exemptions. Instruction 9/2017 is rescinded following amendment removing the personal import value cap, and officers must apply customs valuation rules strictly to prevent undervaluation.

Handling of Cargo in Customs Area Regulations enforcement creates a CCSP Cell to oversee cargo facilities and update commissionerate jurisdiction.
The amendment creates a Customs Cargo Service Provider (CCSP) Cell under the Principal Commissioner of Customs (General) charged with enforcement of the Handling of Cargo in Customs Area Regulations, 2009 in all port terminals, private jetties and wharfs, container freight stations and other facilities related to landing of goods and passengers, by inserting that role into the table of charges in paragraph 4 of the earlier Trade Notice and notifying trade to note jurisdictional changes.

Social Welfare Surcharge applicability affirmed: SWS payable in cash on imports despite duty-credit scrip debits.
SWS is chargeable as an additional customs duty on imported goods and is distinct from Basic and Additional Customs Duty; duty credit scrips are a mode of payment for those duties but do not exempt SWS, which must be paid in cash going forward, although past debits of SWS to scrips will be accepted for earlier transactions.

Paperless LPCO uploads require PGAs to upload recent authorizations; beneficiary uploads deactivated and ICEGATE email registration is mandatory for beneficiaries.
Operational directions require PGAs to upload digitally signed LPCOs to the e-SANCHIT platform and state that beneficiary self-uploading will be deactivated from the specified cut-off; PGAs must upload LPCOs issued during the transitional period and may upload earlier LPCOs to enable use. PGAs must use ICEGATE-registered email addresses for communication and IRN transmission, and implementation issues should be reported to the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner (EDI).

Sea cargo stakeholders must register on ICEGATE and test new manifest formats ahead of mandatory switchover.
Registration on ICEGATE is required for all stakeholders under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations; master applicants must apply via ICEGATE providing entity details, authorized personnel, intended operations and supporting documents. Applications route through ICES for approval by the jurisdictional Customs officer. A testing phase beginning 15 January 2020 requires sending both new and existing manifest formats, with the new format effective from 16 February 2020; entity-specific message obligations and any special pre-approval requirements are set out in an annexure and technical guidance on ICEGATE.

Grievance redressal committee established to address GST taxpayer grievances with quarterly meetings and IT-based tracking of resolutions.
A Grievance Redressal Committee for Rajasthan is constituted with central and state tax co chairs, nodal IT and stakeholder representatives, and nominated trade and tax professional members for two year terms; absence from three consecutive meetings without reason leads to replacement. The Committee meets quarterly (or more frequently), considers taxpayer procedural and IT grievances, refers matters needing legislative or policy change to the policy secretariat, and refers portal issues to the IT provider. An IT portal will record grievances, statuses and actions for stakeholder access.

Paperless LPCO processing: beneficiaries barred from direct uploads; PGAs must upload authorizations to e SANCHIT for trade use.
Implementation of e SANCHIT requires PGAs to upload digitally signed Licenses/Permits/Certificates/Other Authorizations (LPCOs) onto ICES for paperless processing. Four additional PGAs are being added and beneficiary uploading of previously issued LPCOs will be deactivated from the cut off date; PGAs must upload LPCOs issued during the prior short window and may upload earlier LPCOs. Communication will be by ICEGATE registered email and beneficiaries must ensure correct registration; the notice operates as a standing order and operational issues must be reported to NS I Appraising Main (Import) officials.

Social Welfare Surcharge on imports must be paid in cash; duty credit scrips cannot be used to discharge SWS.
Levy and cash payment obligation of Social Welfare Surcharge on imported goods is affirmed, and its collection cannot be met by debit to export-oriented duty credit scrips. Duty credit scrips under the FTP are a mode of payment allowed for Basic and Additional Customs Duty but do not envisage debit of SWS; therefore SWS must be paid in cash for future imports, while past debits in scrips will be accepted and not recovered.

Social Welfare Surcharge on imports must be paid in cash; duty credit scrips cannot discharge the surcharge.
Social Welfare Surcharge is an additional Customs duty on imported goods, calculated on the aggregate of duties, taxes and cesses under section 12 of the Customs Act. Duty credit scrips under MEIS/SEIS serve only as a mode of payment for Basic and certain Additional Customs Duties and do not permit debit of SWS. In line with Supreme Court precedent, SWS is not exempted by existing FTP or exemption notifications and therefore must be paid in cash going forward, while past debits of SWS to scrips will be retained.

Social Welfare Surcharge must be paid in cash; cannot be debited against duty credit scrips for imports.
The Social Welfare Surcharge is leviable on imports as a customs duty calculated on aggregate duties, taxes and cesses, and is not exempt under the Foreign Trade Policy or customs exemption notifications. Duty credit scrips (MEIS/SEIS) are payment instruments for specified customs duties but do not permit debit of SWS; SWS must be paid in cash. System changes enforce this practice, and past debits of SWS to scrips up to the stated cutoff are accepted without recovery.

ICEGATE registration requirement ensures stakeholders adopt new Sea Cargo Manifest electronic messaging formats before mandated switchover.
Registration on ICEGATE is required for all stakeholders to file new Sea Cargo Manifest messages; during testing stakeholders must submit manifests in both existing and new formats. Different entity types follow a phased testing schedule; notified carriers must register a National Surety Bond before approval, while certain operators receive automatic approval. Entities performing multiple roles must submit separate ICEGATE applications for each role. Applicants may reply online to officer queries but cannot upload additional documents in replies, and must submit a self-declaration of no pending cases with the application.

PGA e-SANCHIT paperless LPCO uploading now mandatory; beneficiary uploads disabled and PGAs must upload recent LPCOs.
Implementation of e-SANCHIT requires PGAs to upload digitally signed LPCOs onto the platform; four additional PGAs increase the total to forty-seven. Beneficiaries will be barred from uploading previously issued LPCOs after the cut-off date, so PGAs must upload LPCOs issued in the 15 days before that date and may upload earlier LPCOs. PGAs must use ICEGATE-registered email addresses for beneficiary communication; formations must ensure correct registration and issue public notices, with feedback directed to the ICEGATE helpdesk.

Sea cargo manifest registration requires stakeholders to apply through ICEGATE, complete testing, and comply with role-specific approval and bond conditions.
Sea Cargo Manifest Regulations require covered stakeholders to register on ICEGATE and make role-specific applications before filing revised electronic messages. Other Notified Carriers must register a National Surety Bond before approval, while Authorized Terminal Operators and Authorized Custodians receive automated approval, subject to MFTP onboarding for custodians. Entities undertaking multiple roles must apply separately for each role. Applicants may answer queries online, with additional documents examined manually where required.