Customs Department – The ‘Guardians of the Economic Frontiers’: Nirmala Sitharaman

By R. Anil Kumar

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making sure that stolen artefacts and antiquities are brought back to India from various countries-Union Finance Minister
• Sitharaman further stated that the Customs Department and formations under it are the ‘guardians of the economic frontiers’.
• Union Finance Minister releases ‘पुरावशेष के प्रहरी’, an information brochure depicting select antiquities
• Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman virtually presides over handing-over ceremony of 101 antiquities seized by Customs to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
• Revenue Secretary highlighted twin role of Customs and ASI officials in detection and thwarting of attempts of illegal export of antiquities Need to use of technology and inter-agency coordination as well as international cooperation in busting the international smuggling syndicates: CBIC Chairman Handing-over ceremony was held simultaneously at seven different locations viz. Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai and Pune

Bangalore, February 29. Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman virtually presided over handing-over ceremony of 101 antiquities seized by Customs to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making sure that stolen artefacts and antiquities are brought back to India from various countries, the Finance Minister, stated.

Lauding the efforts made by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Department in its contribution on Homeland Security, Smt. Sitharaman said, India based on the performance of the Customs Department, is presently ranked 47 amongst 120 odd countries, according a global survey.

The Prime Minister has set a target of achieving below 10 ranking by the next 3 years, and the department would attain it all earnestness, Sitharaman exuded confidence .

The Union Finance Minister called upon the Customs Department to be alert and vigilant while manning the post in sensitive border areas, especially in areas that are densely populated and vulnerable.

While handing over Customs seized antiquities to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on February 29, the Union Finance Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making sure that stolen artefacts and antiquities are brought back to India from various countries for which bilateral negotiations keep on taking place.

Many artefacts and antiquities have been brought back in recent times and with these 101 seized articles of antiquities, Customs is contributing to India’s rich history.

Smt. Sitharaman further stated that the Customs Department and formations under it are the ‘guardians of the economic frontiers’.

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chief Sanjay Kumar Agarwal Stating that the challenge of illicit trade looms larger than before, said tackling issues such as counterfeit products, smuggling and tax evasion is fundamental to safeguarding India’s economic stability.

During the release of a report by industry body FICCI, last September on the topic — ‘Hidden Streams: Linkages between Illicit Markets, Financial Flows, Organised Crime and Terrorism’ — Agarwal had said these issues have “profound socioeconomic implications and undermine national security”.

He said an environment is being created so that fraudsters are not allowed to enter the ecosystem. “The recent decisions in successive GST Council meetings to make suitable changes in return filing are in that direction only so that the menace of fake ITC (input tax credit) can be cut.

This will meet the long-standing demand of trade and industry, especially sectors like iron, steel, which are impacted by fake ITC to a large extent,” he said.

Agarwal said the solution to deal with fake ITC generation is complex and the department has received various suggestions regarding rates. “It is being discussed.

It’s not just iron and steel but other sectors also,” he said, adding that the GST Council’s recent decision on the return filing and registration process would help in solving the problem of fake ITC and fake businesses.

On the anti-smuggling front, the CBIC chairman said customs officers are keeping vigil on perpetrators and syndicates, be it with regard to outright smuggling or concealment in trade consignments.

There has been an increase in the illicit drug trade in India in recent years, with the report stating that 3,172 cases of drug seizures were recorded during 2014-2022 as against 1,257 cases in 2006-2013. Total 4,888 arrests were made during the same period for these seizures involving 3.33 lakh kg of drugs worth Rs. 20,000 crore.

Speaking in Bengaluru, exclusively to R. Anil Kumar, on India’s ranking based on Customs Department performance, where the country presently ranks 47,amongst 120 odd countries, Chief Commissioner of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Karnataka Zone, Smt. V. Usha, said the ranking is based on the integrated survey conducted across these countries.

The Department is constantly working to improve its performance, incorporating innovative technics and is earnestly striving to achieving the goal set by Prime minister Narendra Modi, of achieving the below 10ranking, Internationally, by the next three years, and Karnataka zone’s contribution will be significant in achieving this goal, Smt. Usha stated.