**Executive Summary**
The Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), Mumbai, in collaboration with the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, conducted a seminar-cum-webinar on 27 February 2026, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The programme aimed to increase awareness of digital customs facilitation, foreign exchange regulations, and the New Baggage Rules 2026, among stakeholders and international travellers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Seminar Overview:**
* The seminar focused on three key areas: the ATITHI App, RBI guidelines on currency export and import, and updated baggage norms.
* **ATITHI App (Automated Traveller Helpdesk):**
* The ATITHI App allows passengers to file online baggage and currency declarations pre-arrival and post-arrival.
* It facilitates digital customs duty payment, declarations for crew members, groups and pets, and temporary import/export certification.
* The App reduces physical interface at airports and promotes transparent customs administration.
* **RBI Guidelines:**
* Ms. Savitha Srikanth from the Reserve Bank of India explained FEMA-compliant export and import limits and declaration requirements.
* The session clarified permissible currency limits and regulatory procedures.
* **New Baggage Rules 2026:**
* Shri R.N. Jha elaborated on updated passenger entitlements, revised valuation norms, and procedural changes.
* Public awareness is central to smoother airport operations and improved voluntary compliance.
* **Airport Commissionerate Initiatives:**
* The Airport Commissionerate showcased best practices, including 24×7 help desks, touch-screen kiosks, and QR-based feedback systems.
* A dedicated grievance redressal mechanism and passport scanners have been implemented.
* CAPIT mirror screens at the Red Channel enhance transparency.
* **Oversight and Training:**
* Technology-driven measures like Body-Worn Cameras are used.
* Specialized training on Baggage Rules 2026 and screening procedures, along with capacity-building sessions, have been conducted.
* **Public Outreach:**
* Initiatives include public notices, awareness posters, digital standees, structured media engagement, and information dissemination on social media.
* Coordination with various agencies ensures seamless airport operations and compliance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** International Travellers
* **Impact:** Increased awareness of customs regulations, digital facilitation options, and streamlined airport procedures.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the ATITHI App for pre-arrival declarations, adhere to RBI currency guidelines, and familiarize themselves with the New Baggage Rules 2026.
**Stakeholder:** Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III
* **Impact:** Enhanced efficiency, transparency, and accountability in airport operations.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and improve the implemented best practices, continue training programs, and disseminate information to stakeholders.
**Stakeholder:** Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS)
* **Impact:** Strengthened public awareness and improved compliance with customs regulations.
* **Action Required:** Continue collaborative awareness programmes.
**Stakeholder:** Reserve Bank of India
* **Impact:** Increased adherence to FEMA guidelines and currency regulations by international travelers.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide updated information and clarity on currency export/import limits and procedures.
Key Entities Referenced
New Baggage Rules 2026: Updated regulations concerning baggage allowances, customs duties, and import/export procedures for international travellers.
ATITHI App: Automated Traveller Helpdesk for Incoming Tourists & Homebound Indians, aimed at digital customs facilitation.
RBI Guidelines: Directives from the Reserve Bank of India regarding permissible currency limits and regulatory procedures for export, import, and currency compliance.
Mumbai: Location where the awareness program and seminar-cum-webinar regarding digital customs facilitation and baggage rules took place.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC): The government body responsible for developing the ATITHI App and overseeing customs regulations.
Ministry of Finance
DGTS & Mumbai Customs Organise Awareness
Programme at CSMI Airport on ATITHI App, RBI
Currency Norms and Baggage Rules 2026
Posted On: 28 FEB 2026 4:48PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 28 February 2026
The Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), Mumbai Zonal Unit, in collaboration with
the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, organised a comprehensive Seminar–
cum–Webinar at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on 27 February 2026. The
programme was aimed at strengthening awareness among stakeholders and international
travellers regarding digital customs facilitation, foreign exchange regulations, and the New
Baggage Rules 2026.
The seminar covered three key areas of relevance to international passengers — the ATITHI App
for digital customs facilitation, RBI guidelines on export and import of currency, and updated
baggage norms under the New Baggage Rules 2026.
ATITHI App: Customs Clearance and Digital Facilitation
A detailed presentation on the ATITHI (Automated Traveller Helpdesk for Incoming Tourists &
Homebound Indians) App was delivered by Shri Vaibhav Bajaj, Additional Director, Directorate
General of Systems. Developed under the digital transformation initiative of the Central Board of
Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the ATITHI platform enables passengers to file online
baggage and currency declarations through pre-arrival and post-arrival options. It alsofacilitates digital customs duty payment, declarations for crew members, groups and pets, and
temporary import/export certification, significantly reducing physical interface at airports. The
initiative promotes transparent, citizen-centric Customs administration and helps ease
congestion at arrival halls.
RBI Guidelines: Export, Import and Currency Compliance
Ms. Savitha Srikanth, Deputy General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai, explained
FEMA-compliant export and import limits, declaration requirements, and compliance obligations
for passengers. The session provided clarity on permissible currency limits and regulatory
procedures to ensure smooth international travel while maintaining adherence to statutory
norms.
The programme also featured a technical session on the New Baggage Rules 2026, conducted
by Shri R.N. Jha, Assistant Director, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics
(NACIN), who elaborated on updated passenger entitlements, revised valuation norms, and
procedural changes aimed at balancing facilitation with enforcement. Shri Alok Jha, Principal
Commissioner, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, emphasised that public awareness is central to
smoother airport operations and improved voluntary compliance.
During the seminar, the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III showcased a series
of best practices implemented at the airport to strengthen transparency, accountability and
passenger convenience. These include 24×7 help desks at arrival and departure terminals,
touch-screen kiosks and QR-based real-time feedback systems, a dedicated grievance redressal
mechanism for time-bound resolution, passport scanners for faster passenger processing, and
CAPIT mirror screens at the Red Channel to ensure transparency during examination. Since 1
February 2026, the real-time feedback system has recorded 81 passenger responses, reflecting
continued efforts toward service improvement.
Technology-driven oversight measures such as mandatory Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) with daily
supervisory monitoring, advanced passenger profiling using APIS and PNR analytics, and
surprise inspections by senior officers further reinforce accountability and vigilance. Specialised
training on the Baggage Rules 2026 and screening procedures, behavioural and passenger-
handling workshops, and capacity-building sessions under ATITHI BO (January 2026) and
ATITHI 2.0 (February 2026) have strengthened institutional preparedness.
Public outreach initiatives include issuance of public notices on the Baggage Rules 2026,
awareness posters and digital standees at Terminal-2, structured media engagement, and active
dissemination of information through the official X handle (@MumCustomsZone3). Regularcoordination with CISF, MIAL, BCAS and airlines ensures seamless airport operations and
enhanced compliance, supported by random checks in transit zones and other sensitive areas.
The combined initiatives underscore Mumbai Customs’ commitment to digital facilitation, strong
grievance redressal, enhanced transparency, and efficient passenger processing at one of India’s
busiest international gateways.
* * *
PIB Mumbai | Edgar Coelho/Darshana Rane
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