The government will roll out a Customs Integrated System (CIS) within the next two years, creating a single, integrated and scalable digital platform for all customs processes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27.
As part of a major push towards facilitating trade and strengthening border controls, the utilisation of non-intrusive container scanning using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence will be expanded in a phased manner. The objective is to scan every container across all major ports, enhancing risk assessment and cargo security.
In a significant reform for ease of doing business, approvals required from multiple government agencies for cargo clearance will be seamlessly processed through a single interconnected digital window by the end of the current financial year, the Ministry of Finance said.
The clearance processes for food, drugs, plant, animal and wildlife products—which together account for nearly 70 per cent of interdicted cargo—will be fully operational on the new system by April 2026. Goods that do not require regulatory compliance will receive immediate customs clearance once importers complete online registration and duty payment.
The Budget also announced export-oriented measures for Indian fishermen. Fish caught by Indian vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or on the High Seas will be made duty-free, while the landing of such fish at foreign ports will be treated as exports. The government said safeguards will be introduced to prevent misuse during fish catch, transit and transshipment.
To support MSMEs, artisans and start-ups, the government will remove the existing ₹10 lakh per-consignment value cap on courier exports, enabling small businesses to access global markets more effectively through e-commerce platforms.
Additionally, the handling of rejected and returned consignments will be improved through enhanced use of technology to identify and process such cargo efficiently.
On the healthcare front, the government proposed to waive customs duty on 17 cancer drugs and seven drugs for rare diseases, while also announcing the establishment of a second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in North India to strengthen mental healthcare infrastructure.
