New Delhi: All airlines operating flights from international destinations to India have been asked to help flyers bringing dutiable goods fill up customs form onboard. The move, customs officials say, will check delay in payment of duty by such passengers and help in zeroing in on smugglers.
As per rules, which came into effect from this month, incoming passengers not carrying dutiable goods will not have to fill up customs declaration form. Earlier all passengers coming to India were to fill up these declarations.
"We have asked airlines to help passengers in filling up customs form onboard. They have been asked to make flyers aware that those carrying dutiable goods have to fill up the form," said Vinayak Azaad, Additional Commissioner of customs at Indira Gandhi International Airport here. He said this will reduce the paper work customs department had to do earlier.
"There will be comparatively less number of customs forms for analysis by the officers. It will also ensure effective enforcement of customs law and to check any possible evaders," he told PTI.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while presenting the Budget for 2016-17, had announced new customs measures. Following which the monetary limit for Indian passengers coming from any foreign destination, excluding Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, was increased from Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000.
The duty free allowance for people coming from Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar has been increased more than two times to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,000 with effect from April 1. Passengers from China can no longer bring goods duty free into India. Earlier they were able to bring duty free goods of Rs 6,000.
The increase in allowance is applicable for journey by air. Those coming to India from land borders will not be able to get any amount of free allowance, as per the new rules. The duty free allowance for foreigners has also been increased to Rs 15,000 from the earlier limit of Rs 8,000.
