NEW DELHI, Feb 26: Surjit Bhujabal, Member (Customs) CBIC on Thursday said the ongoing customs reforms represent far more than procedural or policy shifts, describing them as part of a deeper institutional transformation aligned with India’s economic ambitions.
Addressing the National Symposium on Customs Reforms 2026 here, he said, “It is an occasion that is not nearly about policy and process, but a shared massive journey a journey in which the Indian Customs evolved not simply a revenue authority at the border but as an institution that enables our economy to move with greater speed, certainty, and confidence.”
Highlighting the scale of operations handled by Indian Customs today, Bhujwal said, “Today India processes a very large quantum on import and declarations. More than 86pc of consignments are facilitated without any interruptions, without any interface with officials.”
He emphasised that the transformation is not limited to administrative efficiency. “This is not about faster clearances, it is about powering economic growth,” he said.
Linking customs reforms with the broader national development roadmap, Bhujwal stated, “Under the vision of vision of visksit bharat 2047 one of the core themes is a trade-integrated world, in that journey customs is not peripheral, we are the facilitators of national ambition.”
Referring to India’s commitments under the World Trade Organization framework, he said, “When India aligned itself with the WTO trade facilitation agreement, we more than fulfilled an international commitment. We built an enduring institutional architecture for coordination and execution.”
The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) represents an important milestone by creating an international framework for reducing trade costs. It contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit.
He elaborated on institutional mechanisms created to support reforms, saying, “The national committee on trade facilitation, chaired at the highest level of the government, institutionalised coordination across ministries, partner government agencies, industry stakeholders, and most importantly, it made the outcomes measurable.”
Bhujwal further noted that, “By Feb 2022, India achieved 100 pc implementation of WTO TFA commitments but treated this milestone not as closure but as a foundation.”
The remarks underscored the government’s continued push toward technology-driven, transparent, and trade-facilitative customs systems aimed at strengthening India’s integration with global markets while supporting the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
(UNI)
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