5th Edition of National Time Release Study

On 20th June 2025, Union Finance Minister released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS) at the CBIC Conclave in New Delhi. Developed by Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the NTRS is a key tool to assess cargo clearance efficiency at India’s borders.

Key Points

Objective: Measures time taken for cargo release using Customs Automated System data; helps evaluate trade facilitation performance.
Expanded Scope: Now includes courier, transit, and commodity-specific shipments; new locations added like Kochi Seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD, and Jaigaon LCS.
Performance Insights:
- Average Release Time (ART) fell by 6 hrs at seaports, 5 hrs at ACCs, and 18 hrs at ICPs (2023–2025).
- However, ICDs saw a 12-hour increase in ART.
National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0 Compliance:
- 93.33% of ICP cargo cleared within 48 hrs
- 55.03% of ACC cargo within 24 hrs
- 51.76% at seaports, and 43.70% at ICDs
Boost Factors: Advance filing, RMS facilitation, AEO accreditation, and DPD contributed to improvements.
Challenges Identified: Delays in duty payments, PGA clearances, and post-clearance logistics remain bottlenecks.
Cargo Insights: Refrigerated and factory-stuffed cargo cleared faster; cargo characteristics significantly affect release time.