Finance Minister Releases 5th Edition of National Time Release Study to Boost Trade Efficiency

New Delhi: In a major move to enhance the efficiency of cargo clearance and ease of doing business in India, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS) during the CBIC Conclave held in the capital today.

The Time Release Study (TRS), a globally recognised performance measurement tool, evaluates the average time taken for cargo to be cleared at customs. It helps identify bottlenecks, streamline trade processes, and improve India’s ranking in logistics performance and trade facilitation. Since its inception in 2019, the study has been conducted at 15 key locations, including seaports, air cargo complexes (ACCs), inland container depots (ICDs), and integrated check posts (ICPs).

This fifth edition of the NTRS marked a significant expansion in scope and methodology. It incorporated three additional ports—Kochi Seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD, and Jaigaon Land Customs Station (LCS)—and applied advanced techniques to allow for stage-wise and process-specific evaluations. A standout feature of India’s TRS remains its reliance on precise and credible data sourced directly from the Customs Automated System, operated by the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management, CBIC.

The findings of the 2025 report revealed a marked improvement in the average release time (ART) for import cargo at major entry points. Seaports saw a reduction of around 6 hours, air cargo complexes improved by 5 hours, and ICPs achieved an impressive reduction of 18 hours. However, an increase of 12 hours was noted at ICDs, indicating areas for further improvement.

Performance against the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0 benchmarks showed significant progress. About 93.33% of import cargo at ICPs met the 48-hour clearance target. Similarly, air cargo complexes cleared 55.03% of cargo within 24 hours, followed by seaports at 51.76%, and ICDs at 43.70%.

The report attributed the improvements to the effective implementation of the “Path to Promptness” framework, which includes advance filing, Risk Management System (RMS)-based facilitation, Accredited Economic Operator (AEO) benefits, and Direct Port Delivery (DPD). However, challenges such as delays in duty payment, document amendments, inter-agency coordination, and post-clearance logistics were identified as areas requiring targeted interventions.

In the export segment, cargo clearance varied across port types. Air cargo complexes led the way with regulatory clearance times under 4 hours, while ICPs followed at just over 6 hours. Seaports showed a regulatory clearance average of nearly 30 hours, with logistics post-clearance adding another 157 hours. ICDs improved their post-clearance times to about 100 hours.

The study also highlighted differentiated performance based on cargo characteristics. Refrigerated goods moved swiftly through air cargo, while factory-stuffed containers had faster clearance than those stuffed at ICDs. Overall, facilitation levels remained high, ranging from 87% to 93% across port types.