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India Calls for Tech-Driven Customs Overhaul Amid Trade Surge
Feb 26, 2026Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary of the Revenue Department, on Thursday said India’s expanding trade volumes and growing integration into global value chains require a modern, technology-driven customs governance framework.
Speaking at the National Symposium on Customs Reforms 2026 in New Delhi, Shrivastava emphasised that the rapid rise of digital commerce and cross-border transactions has made it imperative for customs systems to become more efficient, transparent and facilitative.
He noted that customs administration occupies a uniquely strategic position in India’s economic transformation and in the pursuit of its long-term development goals. “Customs authorities are not merely regulatory bodies but key institutions that both protect society and enhance the country’s global competitiveness,” he said.
Highlighting the need for a progressive approach, Shrivastava said the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is working to replace an adversarial relationship with industry with one based on partnership and collaboration. The focus, he added, is to strengthen trade facilitation while ensuring accountability and compliance.
Expressing optimism about the symposium’s outcomes, he said the deliberations are expected to generate constructive ideas, deepen institutional cooperation and reinforce a shared commitment to reform-oriented customs governance aligned with India’s evolving trade landscape.
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