The Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL), under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and improving the ease of doing business. The MoU, signed by Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, and Shri V. Suresh, Director, CRCL, in the presence of Shri Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary & Member (Customs), CBIC, marks a forward-looking initiative to foster R&D, innovation, and scientific excellence at CRCL.
According to the official press release, this collaboration is designed to bolster trade facilitation and regulatory efficiency. The MoU “marks a forward-looking initiative that reinforces CRCL’s commitment to scientific excellence, regulatory efficiency, and global trade competitiveness, positioning the country as a trusted hub for customs compliance and facilitation.”
A key benefit of this partnership is the leveraging of IIT Delhi’s advanced R&D ecosystem to modernise CRCL’s analytical infrastructure, including trace-level detection and high-end instrumentation. The MoU also emphasises capacity building through joint training, workshops, and technical exchanges, which will enhance the skills of customs chemists and officers in areas such as nanotechnology, materials science, and forensic chemistry.
Innovation in customs testing is another major focus, with the development of rapid testing protocols, automated screening methods, and custom analytical tools to expedite clearance processes. The initiative is expected to provide scientific validation of Indian-manufactured goods and enable faster testing turnaround, thereby supporting the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and instilling greater industry confidence.
The MoU aims to harmonise practices with World Customs Organisation (WCO) standards, enhancing India’s global standing and ensuring more predictable customs procedures. It outlines a roadmap for joint research on customs-related testing challenges and regulatory science, technology transfer, and the deployment of advanced analytical techniques in CRCL and regional labs. The agreement also includes co-development of standard operating procedures, reference materials, and analytical databases, along with academic mentorship from IIT Delhi faculty to CRCL scientists.
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This partnership is poised to make a significant impact on India’s scientific landscape and business environment, reinforcing the nation’s position as a leader in customs compliance and innovation.
(Source: PIB)
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