After introducing round-the-clock customs clearance mechanism at major airports and seaports, the government is now working on a single window clearance scheme for reducing the time and cost involved in the export and import of goods.

As the country braces up for enhanced international trade, the customs department has started developing a single window that will integrate other agencies like drug controller or foods inspectors, thereby facilitating all transit related regulatory requirements.

We are developing a system wherein there will be only a single common data form for traders to file, keeping in mind the requirements of all other agencies involved. This way, the trader will not have to obtain a no-objection certificate (NoC) from all the agencies involved but from only one nodal agency, a government source told The Indian Express. The official said that the customs department is working on the form and assessing the IT preparedness of