CRCL and IIT Delhi Sign MoU to strengthen scientific capabilities and promote ease of doing business

The Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to strengthen India’s trade facilitation efforts and promote innovation in customs testing and scientific regulation.

The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, and Shri V. Suresh, Director, CRCL, in the presence of Shri Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary & Member (Customs), CBIC.

This strategic partnership underscores a shared vision to modernize India’s customs science infrastructure, accelerate regulatory efficiency, and align with global standards. It reinforces CRCL’s role as a center of scientific excellence and a catalyst for seamless trade.

Key Objectives and Strategic Benefits:

• Modernization of Scientific Infrastructure:
  CRCL will leverage IIT Delhi’s cutting-edge R&D ecosystem to enhance analytical capabilities in areas such as trace-level detection, advanced instrumentation, and material characterization.

• Capacity Building and Skill Development:
  Joint workshops, training programs, and academic exchanges will help upgrade the technical knowledge of customs chemists and officers in fields like nanotechnology, forensic science, and environmental monitoring.

• Innovation in Customs Testing:
  The collaboration will focus on developing rapid testing protocols, automated screening solutions, and analytical tools to expedite customs clearances and reduce dwell times.

• Support for ‘Make in India’ and Ease of Doing Business:
  Scientific validation and faster testing of domestically manufactured goods will boost industry confidence and promote smoother export-import processes.

• Global Best Practices and Alignment:
  The partnership aims to harmonize India’s customs procedures with World Customs Organization (WCO) standards, enhancing predictability and compliance in international trade.

MoU Scope Includes:

• Joint research on regulatory science and customs-related analytical challenges.

• Technology transfer and deployment of advanced testing techniques in CRCL and regional labs.

• Co-development of SOPs, reference materials, and analytical databases.

• Academic mentorship from IIT Delhi faculty to CRCL scientists.

• Establishment of Centres of Excellence in areas such as narcotics analysis, quality assurance, and environmental monitoring.

About CRCL:

The Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) is the apex scientific institution under CBIC, headquartered in New Delhi. It leads a nationwide network of 12 revenue laboratories, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, supporting Customs and GST field operations through scientific analysis of trade goods.

Key highlights of the CRCL network:

• 4 labs are certified for forensic analysis under the NDPS Act.

• 2 labs (New Delhi and Vadodara) are recognized by FSSAI as Food Laboratories and under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as Environmental Labs.

• CRCL staff also manage 2 labs at the Government Opium and Alkaloid Works (GOAW) in Ghazipur and Neemuch, focused on the quality control of opium and alkaloids.

This landmark MoU reflects the Government of India’s commitment to combining scientific rigor with efficient trade facilitation, furthering India’s position as a trusted and progressive trade hub on the global stage.