Overseas flyer information with customs

Aircraft operators are now required to share all travel-related information about passengers who are going to travel in and out of India at least 24 hours before their flight departure time. This information will have to be shared with Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) for conducting of “risk analysis of passengers”.

Details –

• On 8th August 2022, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a gazette notification titled ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022’.
• As per the notification, aircraft operators are now required to share all travel-related information about passengers who are going to travel in and out of India at least 24 hours before their flight departure time.
• This information will have to be shared with CBIC established agency, National Customs Targeting Centre – Passenger (NCTC-P) for conducting of “risk analysis of passengers”.
• Operators not providing this data can be fined a minimum of Rs 25,000.
• The passenger details will include details such as PNR, passport number, date of birth, travel agency/travel agent, etc.
• The information received will be subject to the strict information privacy and protection in accordance with the provisions of any law for the time being in force.

Purpose –

• Such information is needed for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of offences under the Customs Act and also for the law enforcement agencies or government departments or any other country.
• Analysts believe that this notification is intended to prevent bank loan defaulters from fleeing the country to avoid prosecution.
  • According to information furnished by the government in Parliament, a total of 38 economic offenders, including Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi, fled the country in the last five years.

About the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs –

• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (erstwhile Central Board of Excise & Customs) is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.
• CBIC is a statutory body established under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963.
• CBIC was formed in 1964 when the Central Board of Revenue was split into the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Excise and Customs, which was renamed the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs in 2018.
• The Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is appointed by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by the Prime Minister.
• The Board is the administrative authority for its subordinate organisations, including Custom Houses, Central Excise and Central GST Commissionerate’s and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.