CBIC Introduces “Ekal Anubandh” – A unified electronic bond for all customs purposes.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes Customs (CBIC) has launched Ekal Anubandh i.e., Single Unified Multi-Purpose Electronic Bond (SEB) vide Circular No. 04/2025-Customs dated 17th February 2025. This digital transformation targets to improve customs practices, reduce compliance costs, and enhance trade efficiency.
What’s Changing?
- Replace multiply transaction-specific bonds with a single all-India multipurpose bond.
- Fully paperless & automated -reducing administrative burdens.
- Digital Submission via ICEGATE, eliminating notarization hassles.
- Real-time monitoring of bank guarantee and electronic stamp duty payment.
Key Highlights of the Circular
1. Introduction of Single All-India Multipurpose electronic Bond (SEB):
Today, companies engaged in import and export operations are obliged to fulfil several bonds for various types of transactions. These include:
- Provisional assessment bonds
- Export Promotion Schemes
- Warehousing under Section 59 of the Customs Act
- Manufacturing in bonded warehouses (MOOWR)
All of these bonds must be individually submitted at different customs offices and for different transactions, creating administrative costs, delays and increased compliance liabilities. Aware of these inefficiencies, CBIC has launched Ekal Anubandh, a system of single electronic bond (itself a unified system with no need to submit multiple bonds), bringing an end to the process of making several bonds via its all-purpose and all- India nature.
2. Features of the SEB
- Importers/exporters may submit an electronic bond valid to more than one transaction.
- Optional bond amounts and bond obligations as well as can be added digitally later on.
- Electronic settlement of stamp duty and e-signature incorporation via National email Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) that bypasses the process of notarization.
- End-to-end anchoring of electronic Bank Guarantees (e-BG) to improve security and traceability.
3. Streamlined Bank Guarantee Process
The process of submitting Bank Guarantees (BGs) has also been simplified:
- A list of scenarios and their required bank guarantees has been consolidated.
- BGs can be electronically linked with bonds via ICEGATE Portal, ensuring real-time verification and tracking.
4. Advantages of the SEB
Savings in costs, administration and attendant customs workload for enterprise and customs administration.
- Paperless, digital signing allows for quicker adjudication and reduced delays.
- Environmental benefits by reducing physical documentation.
- Secure and transparent system, with real-time tracking of transactions.
5. Implementation
The Single All India Multipurpose Electronic Bond (SEB) under the "Ekal Anubandh" project will be detailed advisories being issued by DG Systems in a phase manner. User feedback will be effectively integrated throughout the implementation process.