The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Ministry of Finance, has expanded the powers of senior customs officers to streamline passenger data management and strengthen customs intelligence.

Through Notification No. 62/2025-Customs (N.T.), issued on October 1, 2025, the CBIC has appointed the Principal Additional Director General or the Additional Director General of the National Customs Targeting Centre–Passenger (NCTC-Pax) under the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) as officers of customs, designating them as Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs.

The notification, issued under powers conferred by Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Customs Act, 1962, empowers these officers with nationwide jurisdiction to receive and process Passenger Name Record (PNR) information in accordance with the Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022.

1. Expanded Jurisdiction and Authority:
   The DGARM officers, functioning under the NCTC-Pax, are now vested with the full powers of Principal or Commissioner of Customs across the entire country. This enables them to oversee and act upon passenger data for risk profiling and intelligence-based targeting of high-risk travelers.
2. Role in Data Processing:
   These designated officers will be responsible for receiving and processing PNR data collected under the 2022 regulations, a framework designed to enhance border security and combat smuggling, money laundering, and other transnational crimes.
3. Proper Officer Designation:
   The officers have also been assigned specific functions under Sections 30A and 41A of the Customs Act, which relate to electronic submission of passenger and crew manifests, making them the proper officers for handling such functions.

The notification clarifies that it will come into force immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, thereby operationalizing the enhanced powers and responsibilities of the DGARM officials without delay.

What is the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM)?

The Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) serves as CBIC’s central data analytics and risk management wing. Within DGARM, the National Customs Targeting Centre–Passenger (NCTC-Pax) plays a crucial role in analyzing passenger information to identify potential risks at international borders.

By formally designating its top officers as Principal or Commissioner-level officers of customs, the CBIC aims to ensure better coordination between analytics, enforcement, and field formations, allowing for quicker decision-making and improved national security mechanisms at ports and airports.

Notification Details

Notification No. 62/2025-Customs (N.TI

Date:  01st October, 2025

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