The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently introduced a Secure QR coded Shipping Bill that will be electronically transmitted to exporters, eliminating the need for paper documentation. This move is a significant stride towards accomplishing a Faceless, Paperless, and Contactless Customs system under the CBIC’s “Turant Customs” project.
Importance of Turant Customs Initiative
The CBIC has taken this initiative in order to uphold its commitment to establishing a Faceless, Paperless, and Contactless Customs system through the Turant Customs programme. The establishment of a paperless environment for export-related documentation follows a similar initiative launched for imports on April 15, 2020.
Promoting Green Customs and Business
Apart from the environmental benefits of going paperless, also known as ‘Green Customs’, this change also enables more streamlined business operations. Exporters will no longer have to visit Customs Houses and can dedicate more time to developing their businesses.
Implementation Plan
The Turant Customs programme’s main focus, Faceless Assessment, is set to be implemented in stages throughout the country, with a target completion date of January 1, 2021.
Benefits of Digital Transformation
These reforms leverage digital technology to decrease time and costs for importers, exporters, and other stakeholders. This also positively impacts India’s standing in the World Bank’s “Trading Across Borders” parameter of its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) index. In fact, India soared from rank 146 in 2018 to 80 thanks to reform measures such as Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade, e-Sanchit, and Direct Port Delivery.
Additional IT Initiatives
In line with the digitization efforts, the Ministry of Finance (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has also launched two IT initiatives – ICEDASH and ATITHI. ICEDASH facilitates improved monitoring of customs clearance of imported goods, while ATITHI aims to streamline the process for arriving international passengers.
About Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, formerly known as the Central Board of Excise and Customs, is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. Renamed in 2018 following the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), CBIC oversees policy formulation related to the levy and collection of Customs, Central Excise duties, Central Goods & Services Tax and Integrated GST, as well as anti-smuggling measures.
Moving Forward with Ease of Doing Business
A better rank in the ease of doing business index and increased awareness about opportunities within the Indian business sector would draw foreign investors to India, potentially introducing advanced technologies into the country. However, ease of doing business rankings should not be the only measure of prosperity, as they primarily reflect regulatory reforms implemented in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. More comprehensive measures should be initiated to improve not just the ease of doing business ranking, but also the overall business environment, leading to enhanced prosperity for all.