Customs Officer Career Information

If you wish to become a customs officer, you should be aware of the fact that the Customs Act was formulated in 1962 to control the imports through preventing illegal imports and exports of goods. Besides, all imports were subjected to an import duty aiming to protect the indigenous industries as well as to minimize the imports to secure stable exchange rate for Indian currency.

For the purpose of exercising proper surveillance over imports and exports, the Central Government established The Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES). It is basically concerned with two main aspects, Customs and Excise. While Customs is concerned with the checking and levy of duty on taxable goods brought into the country, the Excise department is involved with the taxation of goods manufactured within the country.This is an important information for those who wish to become a customs officer. This services falls into the Group A of the Central Services of the IAS. This means that you will be a Class I Officers. But unlike an IAS officer who belongs to a particular state, you, as a customs officer, will serve the central government wherever you may be posted.

As a customs officer, you will be posted at international airports and ports. You will also serve at border and other coastal towns. As a customs officer, you will also be working in any of the following branches:

Customs This branch is involved in the formulation of policies and procedures, their interpretation and application in the area of Customs. These have to be coordinated with the country's trade policy and other international regulations. In addition, it controls and supervises all the field operations of the customs department. If you intend to become a customs officer, you can choose this particular department.

Central Excise This branch looks after the legislation, interpretation, policy and procedures relating to collection of Central Excise duties and tax on services. The operations of all Central Excise officials is supervised and controlled from here.

Personnel and Vigilance Here, the emphasis is on personnel management, which includes career planning, recruitment, transfer, promotion and training. Surveillance operations also form part of this branch. If you plan to become a customs officer, you can work in this particular department.

Anti-Smuggling This branch supervises and controls the anti-smuggling departments and formulates policies and procedures relating to anti-smuggling.

Customs and Excise cadres are not exclusive departments. Officers can be transferred from one to another, depending upon their experience and demands of work.

Job Opportunity

After probation, customs officers get posted as Assistant Commissioners (customs) at any one of the eleven Zonal offices located in major cities in India.

They are promoted in due course to:

• Deputy Commissioners (customs)

• Additional Commissioners (customs)

• Commissioners (customs)

• Member (Central Board of Excise and Customs)

• Chairman (Central Board of Excise and Customs)

Career Prospects

The best part about the government services is that on becoming full-fledged officers you will continue service until retirement. The stability in the government services is unparallel in India.

Jobs in the Civil Services involve a great deal of power and authority, which is another high. Even after retirement you have numerous options working for firms involved in the import-export business where your knowledge of customs procedure and contacts will come in handy. Freelancing as a consultant is also a good option.