Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS), which showed a significant reduction in average cargo release times across key import gateways between 2023 and 2025.
According to the central board of indirect taxes and customs (CBIC) report, average release times fell by approximately six hours at seaports, 5 hours at air cargo complexes (ACCs), and 18 hours at integrated check posts (ICPs).
However, inland container depots (ICDs) recorded a 12-hour increase during 2023 and 2025.
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The study also revealed that 93.33 per cent of import cargo at ICPs met the 48-hour release target set under the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0, followed by 55 per cent at ACCs, 51.8 per cent at seaports, and 43.7 per cent at ICDs.
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Export clearance times remained fastest at air cargo complexes, where regulatory clearance took less than 4 hours. In contrast, export processing at seaports averaged nearly 30 hours, with logistics post-clearance stretching to more than 157 hours.
“High levels of facilitation (87–93 per cent) were observed across ports. Release times were also influenced by cargo characteristics. For instance, refrigerated goods moved faster through air cargo, factory-stuffed cargo was cleared quicker than ICD-stuffed cargo,” the government said.
Sitharaman unveiled the report during the CBIC Conclave in New Delhi.
The study used data from CBIC’s automated systems and expanded its scope this year to include Kochi Seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD, and Jaigaon Land Customs Station (LCS).
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The ‘Path to Promptness’ framework -- emphasising advance filing, risk-based facilitation, AEO accreditation, and Direct Port Delivery-- was cited as a major driver of improvements. However, delays persisted in areas like duty payments, regulatory query resolution, and post-clearance logistics.
Since 2019, the Time Release Study has been conducted annually across 15 major locations and sea ports.
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The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has asked its regional and zonal offices to relieve officials promptly upon their transfer, warning that failure to comply will attract “severe” disciplinary action.
In a letter sent to all regional and zonal offices on Thursday, EPFO Chief Commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi expressed concern that non-compliance with transfer orders constitutes a “serious” breach of discipline and undermines the authority of the Head Office.
“It has come to notice that certain zonal and regional offices have repeatedly failed to comply with the explicit orders of the Head Office regarding timely relieving of officials upon their transfer or reallocation. This constitutes a serious breach of discipline and undermines the authority of the Head Office,” the letter stated.
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The non-compliance with transfer orders hampers the smooth functioning of the social security organisation, as offices are forced to operate with reduced manpower.
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“Be unequivocally warned that any future instance of failure to promptly relieve the transferred officers as per Head Office orders will result in stringent disciplinary action against the officer in charge under the provisions of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964,” the letter further read.
EPFO currently has 283 offices, including 21 zonal offices, 138 regional offices, 117 district offices, and its headquarters in Delhi.
“Any deviation, without specific approval from the Head Office, will be treated as wilful insubordination, inviting severe consequences,” the letter concluded.
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