The Turant Customs is a flagship programme launched by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which is part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance. It was announced as a next-generation reform for Ease of Doing Business via CBIC Circular No. 09/2019-Customs dated February 28, 2019. The programme was created to solve the problem of lengthy delays and complex paperwork in international trade, aiming for Faceless, Paperless, and Contactless Customs clearance. This reform was specifically intended to improve India's ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) index, particularly the "Trading Across Borders" parameter.
The core mechanism of the programme is Faceless Assessment, which was rolled out pan-India by October 31, 2020. This provision uses a technology platform to separate the assessment of a Bill of Entry from the physical location of the Customs officer, ensuring anonymity and uniformity of assessment across the country. The system connects to the Customs Act, 1962, by enabling the Customs Automated System to electronically give clearance to the Bill of Entry upon duty payment, as provided for in the 1st proviso to Section 47(1). Further provisions include the electronic transmission of a Secure QR coded Shipping Bill and e-Gatepass to exporters, as directed by Circular No. 30/2020-Customs dated June 22, 2020, eliminating the need for physical documents.
The programme is supported by the establishment of Turant Suvidha Kendras (TSKs) at all Customs stations to handle physical requirements like accepting bonds or bank guarantees and addressing grievances. It is a continuation of earlier digital initiatives like e-Sanchit for electronic document submission and the ICEGATE portal for communication. The system also involves the constitution of National Assessment Centres (NACs), which are organized according to the 1st Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, to ensure uniform assessment practices.