RTI administration assigns CPIO and appellate jurisdictions across customs functions, with link officers ensuring continuity during officer absences.
Central Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities are designated under the RTI Act, 2005 for defined Airport and Air Cargo Complex customs functions. CPIO jurisdictions include establishment, administrative, airport, import, export, courier, intelligence, vigilance, adjudication, accounts, and laboratory matters. Appeals against CPIO decisions lie to the FAA having jurisdiction. First and second link officers shall act as the respective CPIO or FAA during the notified officer's leave or absence, and the notice specifies addresses and the channel for RTI fee payment.

Exporter grievance redressal through NIRYAT SAMVAAD enables individualized monthly resolution and escalation of exporter concerns.
NIRYAT SAMVAAD establishes a monthly grievance redressal mechanism focused on individual exporter complaints, operating in hybrid mode with submissions required by the prescribed monthly cut off via email using the specified subject format. The forum will attempt real time resolution of issues and escalate unresolved matters to relevant authorities. Systemic industry concerns remain within the Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee and Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee. The Appraising Main (Export) section is the designated nodal administrative unit to administer and execute the forum, and Export Promotion Councils and exporters' associations are encouraged to participate.

Enhancement of women participation in EXIM trade: outreach session and helpdesk offering skills training and AEO support.
An outreach programme by Import-II Commissionerate aims to enhance women's participation in the EXIM trade by informing importers, exporters and logistics operators about opportunities and skill upgradation initiatives. A facilitation helpdesk at the AEO Cell will assist with queries on skill improvement and AEO programme support, and a nodal officer has been appointed to coordinate the initiative; stakeholders are invited to participate and submit queries to the stated contact.

Mandatory coal import qualifiers required to specify ash content or calorific value, improving assessment and clearance efficiency.
Mandatory additional qualifiers must be declared in import declarations for coking and non coking coal (CTH 2701) at the time of filing the Bill of Entry under the Electronic Integrated Declaration and Paperless Processing Regulations, 2018. The Annexure prescribes qualifier codes mapping coking coal to ash content bands and non coking coal to gross calorific value bands to improve assessment, reduce queries and facilitate cargo clearance; the requirement is effective from 15.12.2024 and the Public Notice serves as a Standing Order for departmental officers.

Custodianship suspension halts fresh intake at a CFS; existing goods may be cleared during office hours after due officer process.
Custodianship of M/s. Sudharsan Logistics Pvt. Ltd., CFS, Chennai has been suspended under Regulation 11(2) of HCCAR, 2009 until further orders; fresh receipt of import/export goods into the CFS is stopped forthwith except where bills of entry or shipping bills were filed before the suspension, and goods held as on the suspension date may be cleared during office hours only after due process by the proper officer.

Unified electronic customs bonds enable nationwide obligation management, electronic execution, and linked bank guarantees through phased digital implementation.
The Single Unified Multi-Purpose Electronic Bond framework permits importers and exporters to use one all-India electronic bond instead of separate transaction-wise customs bonds at different ports. Users may select obligations, add obligations or bond amounts later, pay stamp duty electronically, and execute bonds with electronic signatures without notarisation. The system also provides online linking and verification of electronic bank guarantees through ICEGATE, with phased implementation supported by detailed advisories.

Single electronic customs bonds enable nationwide digital compliance, consolidating import, export, warehousing and security obligations through one automated framework.
The Single All-India Multipurpose Electronic Bond framework permits importers and exporters to execute one electronic customs bond through ICEGATE for selected obligations, replacing separate transaction-wise bonds across ports. It covers provisional assessment, export promotion, concessional imports or exports, pending compliance requirements, warehousing, and operations in private or special warehouses. Electronic stamping, stamp-duty payment and electronic signatures are completed through the designated platform without notarisation. Electronic bank guarantees may be linked, validated and tracked online; security must remain valid until the relevant obligations are discharged.

Synthetic diamond export qualifiers: declarations voluntary for lab-grown diamonds under one carat; others remain mandatory.
For exports of Lab Grown Diamonds (HPHT/CVD) weighing less than one carat the declaration of the additional qualifiers is voluntary; for all other imports/exports the mandatory additional qualifiers identifying lab grown diamonds by production method continue to apply as previously required.

Automation of Refund Processing enables electronic filing, tracking and electronic credit of customs refunds with shift to post-audit.
Electronic processing of customs refund claims requires applicants to file on the ICEGATE portal with supporting documents, generates an Application Reference Number on filing, permits reassessment requests and verification of bank details, and provides dashboard status and MIS. Proper officers will scrutinize applications, issue deficiency communications within a prescribed timeline, generate acknowledgements when cured, and communicate show-cause notices or refund orders electronically, while refunds sanctioned will be credited electronically to the applicant's registered bank account through the PFMS system.

Customs refund automation enables electronic filing, scrutiny, orders, status tracking, bank-credit disbursal, and post-audit processing through ICEGATE.
Customs refund applications may be filed electronically through ICEGATE with supporting documents, with re-assessment requests and verification of registered bank details also available online. Filing generates a Unique Application Reference Number, and deficiencies must be communicated through the portal within 10 days. Acknowledgements, show-cause notices, and refund sanction or rejection orders are issued electronically. Sanctioned refunds are credited through PFMS to the registered bank account. Concurrent audit is replaced by post-audit, and ICEGATE provides application-status visibility and refund-pendency monitoring.

Final No Objection Certificate for pet imports to be issued at port round the clock subject to advance NOC and required documents.
The final No Objection Certificate (NoC) for imported pet dogs and pet cats shall be issued by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (AQCS) at the port of entry round the clock, provided the owner has obtained an advance NoC after submitting requisite documents and given prior intimation of arrival by email; imports remain restricted to specified notified ports and field formations must publicize and implement the facilitation measures.

Customs refund automation moves claims to online ICEGATE filing, with manual applications restricted after the transition period.
Automation of customs refund application and processing has been enabled on the Customs Automated System for electronic disbursal of refunds. Refund claims may be filed manually or online only during the transitional period up to 31.03.2025. After that date, future refund claims are to be filed through the online ICEGATE portal mode only, and manual refund applications will not be accepted except where permitted by the Pr. Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs for reasons recorded in writing.

Transfer of confiscated drones centralised to designated focal customs commissionerates, with annexures mapping zones and nodal officers.
Circular mandates transfer of all confiscated drones to designated customs warehouses at Chennai (Airport), Delhi (IGIA), Kolkata (Airport), Mumbai (Airport) and Bengaluru (Airport & Air Cargo) as focal Customs Commissionerates for stocking, segregation, joint inspection by agencies and distribution; it substitutes Annexure A to map Customs Zones to these focal Commissionerates and replaces Annexure C with an updated list of nodal officers to enable coordination.

Verification of Identity: duplicate local checks withdrawn and national regulations now govern first time import/export verification procedures.
Verification of Identity for persons newly engaging in import/export is governed by the Customs (Verification of Identity and Compliance) Regulations, 2021; prior verification at another port suffices and duplicate re verification at this Commissionerate is withdrawn. Persons newly engaging after the Regulations must submit documents under Regulation 4 within thirty days, while those previously active at other stations normally face no further compliance, subject to notification to the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner where assistance for clearance is sought.

All Industry Rate duty drawback applies despite use of non-duty-paid inputs; field formations must not probe or reduce AIR.
Admissibility of All Industry Rate of duty drawback where exported goods use some non-duty-paid or concessional inputs: AIRs are set by weighted average duties and average consumption of imported/indigenous inputs across representative exporters; field formations must not probe use of exempted inputs or deny/reduce AIR on that basis, and a standing order should direct staff to follow the 2005 clarification scrupulously, with difficulties reported to the Board.

Customs cargo custodianship at an inland container depot requires goods security, bond, insurance, tracking and disposal compliance.
M/s. Adani Logistics Ltd. is appointed as Custodian and approved as Customs Cargo Service Provider for the customs area of the Inland Container Depot, Kishangarh. It must comply with customs and cargo-handling requirements; safeguard, receive, handle and store goods; remain liable for pilferage, loss, improper removal and relevant duties; execute prescribed bond and insurance; provide tracking systems and required infrastructure; and bear cost-recovery charges for customs officers. The approval is valid for two years, subject to earlier review, suspension, revocation or cancellation for non-compliance.

Customs cargo custody requires compliance, cargo accountability, insurance, tracking infrastructure, and regulated disposal of uncleared goods.
M/s. Hind Terminals Pvt. Ltd. is appointed Custodian and approved as Customs Cargo Service Provider for the Inland Container Depot, Dhanakya, Jaipur. It must comply with customs law and cargo-handling regulations, remain accountable for receipt, handling, storage, loss and improper removal of cargo, and ensure safe transport of export goods. Conditions include prior approval for alterations or subletting, execution of bond and insurance, payment of cost-recovery charges, RFID-based tracking infrastructure, and disposal or authorised sale of uncleared goods. The appointment is valid for two years, subject to earlier review, suspension, revocation or cancellation.

Automation of refund processing: electronic filing, deficiency tracking, and electronic disbursal replacing manual refund workflows.
Automation requires applicants to file refund claims and supporting documents via the ICEGATE Portal, enables re assessment requests and pre filled forms, and mandates generation of a unique application reference on filing. Proper officers must intimate deficiencies within a short period, issue acknowledgements when defects are cured, and communicate show cause notices or speaking orders electronically, including examination of unjust enrichment. Sanctioned refunds will be paid electronically to registered bank accounts via the PFMS, while credits to the Consumer Welfare Fund continue as before; audit will shift from compulsory pre audit to post audit with selection criteria to be finalised by audit authorities.

Provisional assessment requests can be flagged at filing via new Prov field, eliminating the need to recall RMS bills.
Importers and CHAs must mark the new Prov field as "Y" when filing a bill of entry to request provisional assessment at filing, removing the need to recall RMS facilitated bills. The facility will be available on ICEGATE, stakeholders must report system errors to Deputy/Assistant Commissioners for escalation to DG Systems, AC (EDI) is the nodal officer, and the Public Notice functions as a Standing Order for departmental staff.

Mandatory customs appeal pre-deposits require separate registers for appellate and Tribunal proceedings, recording payment and order particulars.
Mandatory pre-deposit is required for customs appeals involving disputed duty, duty and penalty, or penalty alone. The Air Customs Superintendent in the Review Section must maintain a register recording appellant details, duty-paying document particulars, pre-deposit amount, and relevant appellate or Tribunal order details. Separate registers must be maintained for appeals before the Commissioner of Customs (Appeals) and the Tribunal.