Amendments to Customs Baggage Declaration Regulations
AS per the Customs Baggage Declaration Regulations, 2013, passengers who come to India are required to declare their accompanied baggage in Form I appended to the regulation.
If you are bringing the items mentioned in the Form-I;
(i) Prohibited Articles
(ii) Gold jewellery (over Free Allowance)
(iii) Gold Bullion
(iv) Meat and meat products/dairy products/fish/poultry products
(v) Seeds/plants/seeds/fruits/flowers/other planting material
(vi) Satellite phone
(vii) Indian currency exceeding Rs. 10,000/-
(viii) Foreign currency notes exceed US $ 5,000 or equivalent
(ix) Aggregate value of foreign exchange including currency exceeds USD 10,000 or equivalent.
you are required to report to the Customs Officer at the Red Channel counter. The Form also mentions that you are allowed a duty free allowance of Rs. 35,000 and you can bring in 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
As per the Baggage Rules amended on 11th July 2014:
1. the free baggage allowance is Rs. 45,000
2. duty free - 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 grams of tobacco.
Since 26th August 2013, Flat Panel (LCD/LED/Plasma) Television cannot be imported as part of free baggage allowance.
As per RBI, Circular you can bring in Indian Currency up to Rs. 25,000.
The Baggage Declaration Form still contains the old provisions and passengers have been harassed all these months, because the CBEC had not amended the Form. Even a Customs officer told me that when he returned from a foreign tour, he was told that the duty free allowance was only Rs. 35,000/-.
The CBEC has now amended the Declaration Form to bring in these changes. Will they distribute the new forms at the airports?
Please note again:
You can bring in
1. Duty free goods, worth Rs. 45,000/-
2. Indian rupees up to Rs. 25,000/-
3. 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125 grams of tobacco
4. 2 litres of liquor
5. One laptop computer
6. Jewellery worth Rs. 100,000/50,000 depending upon whether you are a lady or gentleman and
Flat Panel (LCD/LED/Plasma) Television is not allowed duty free.
Please also see DDT 2292 & 2173.
Notification No. , Dated: August 18, 2015