Turant Customs-Next Generation reforms - CBEC's Customs Manual 2023 - Customs

9. Turant Customs-Next Generation reforms: 9.1 The next generation reforms in the Customs clearance process under the umbrella of Turant Customs are with the objectives of speedy clearance, transparency in decision making, and ease of doing business. Board rolled out numerous changes to the Customs clearance process, which combine together support Turant Customs. These initiatives include the self-registration of goods by importers, automated clearances of bills of entry, digitisation of customs documents, paperless clearance, etc. The Turant Customs is primarily based on Faceless, Contactless and Paperless Customs processes. 9.2 Faceless Customs : Indian Customs has initiated Faceless Assessment on imports from June 2020 (Reference Circular No.28/2020-Customs and Instruction No.09/2020 both dated 5th June 2020). The first phase began by linking Chennai and Bengaluru which was gradually expanded to other geographical locations till eventual all India coverage by 31.10.2020. Briefly put, Faceless Assessment uses a technology platform to separate the Customs assessment process from the physical location of a Customs officer at the port of arrival. This measure is with the intent of bolstering efforts to ensure an objective, free, fair and just assessment. Key objectives of Faceless Assessment include: (i) Anonymity in assessment for reduced physical interface between trade and Customs (ii) Speedier Customs clearances through efficient utilisation of manpower (iii) Greater uniformity of assessment across locations (iv) Promoting sector specific and functional specialisation in assessment. Refer to Chapter 3 Para 4.1 for more details on Faceless Customs 9.3 Contactless Customs : In recent years, CBIC has initiated reforms such as online registration of goods, automated queuing and automated clearances of Bills of Entry, simplified online registration in ICEGATE, auto debit of bonds, setting up of Turant Suvidha Kendras (TSKs) etc. All these have enabled an environment which has done away with the requirement of members of the trade to physically interact with Customs in the goods clearances process and has fostered a `Contactless Customs` environment. Refer to Chapter 3 Para 4.2 for more details on Contactless Customs. 9.4 Paperless Customs : CBIC has taken initiatives to enable digital submission and transmission of both Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills in 2020. Besides saving time, the cost of printing paper documents has also been substantially reduced. Refer to Chapter 3 Para 4.3 for more details on Faceless Customs.