How do I become a customs officer? What are the main responsibilities of a customs officer?

Question

Konatham Abhishek · Answer

UPSE conducts CSAT exam for the post for customs officer grade one SSC conducts CGL exam for customs officer grade two. The duties and responsibilities of a customs officer includes - Identifying people to question on the basis of prior offences/likely risk, etc. Searching baggage and individuals for smuggled items Making arrests of people suspected of smuggling Seizing smuggled goods Checking documentation relating to imported goods Detecting and prosecuting drug smugglers Collecting and supplying trade statistics Writing reports Fighting the increasing problem of alcohol and tobacco smuggling Helping to combat the worldwide illegal trade in endangered species of animals and birds Dealing with revenue due on imported goods.

Sunil Soni · Answer

A customs officer is a law enforcement agent who enforces customs laws, on behalf of a government. Customs is concerned with the checking and levy of duty on taxable goods brought into the country. Customs officers are responsible for helping to prevent the importation of illegal and/or dangerous goods including firearms, drugs, alcohol, tobacco and endangered animals. Customs officers enforce legislation to stop smuggling. A customs inspector works in law enforcement, enforcing the laws that governs imports and exports. They inspect those entering and exiting the border. In Government of India, Group A cadre for customs belongs to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). IRS comprises two branches - IRS (Income Tax) and IRS (Customs and Central Excise), which are controlled by two separate statutory bodies, viz., Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). Selection to IRS is based on Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Eligibility condition for appearing in civil services examination is as follow: (a)The candidate must hold a PASS Bachelor's degree from any of the universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India, or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed of a University, under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification. (b) Candidates who have appeared or intend to appear for the final examination and are awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the Preliminary Examination. (c) A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years. (d)You may refer to UPSC website for other eligibility criterion. An open Graduate Level Competitive Exam is conduct by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for filling up the Custom Inspectors posts in in Ministry of Finance. Eligibility criteria is Degree of a recognized University or equivalent. In addition age requirement is 18 years to 27 years.

Garvit Kumar · Answer

To become a custom officer one has to clear the IAS exam thereafter they can option for this profile: Selection of eligible candidates to this post is carried out through Civil Services Examination (CSAT). Graduation in any stream from a recognized educational institution is the basic qualification required to attend the exam. Those who pass CSAT can get in to the role of Customs Officer under Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES). Officers have a very important job: To ensure that people who enter or exit the country does so legally, and that they don't bring anything in or take anything out that they shouldn't. -Checking paperwork to make sure they're authorized to enter or exit the country. -Inspect possessions to ensure they're not bringing prohibited items into the area. -You look for contraband, such as drugs or weapons, as well as items that are subject to tax, such as fine art. -If you work at a sea port, you check the cargo roster for large ships and ensure that the cargo hold does contain what the piece of paper says it should. This work can be slightly less amusing but it's likely to be less stressful, as you won't be processing high volumes of people each day.

Aman Kumar · Answer

To become a customs officer a candidate must complete Graduation in any subject from a recognised university and must have minimum 55% marks which may vary for reserved category candidates. UPSE conducts CSAT exam for the post for customs officer grade one SSC conducts CGL exam for customs officer grade two. The duties and responsibilities of a customs officer includes - Identifying people to question on the basis of prior offences/likely risk, etc. Searching baggage and individuals for smuggled items Making arrests of people suspected of smuggling Seizing smuggled goods Checking documentation relating to imported goods Detecting and prosecuting drug smugglers Collecting and supplying trade statistics Writing reports Fighting the increasing problem of alcohol and tobacco smuggling Helping to combat the worldwide illegal trade in endangered species of animals and birds Dealing with revenue due on imported goods

NITIN DESHMUKH · Answer

The eligibility - Aspirants who have completed their Bachelor degree from a recognized institute are eligible to apply for the post. The qualifying degree must be obtained in any stream with minimum 55% marks. Those who have completed 21 years of age are only eligible to apply for the post of Customs Officer. Upper age limit for the applicant is 30 years. Candidates belonging to a backward category can expect relaxation in age. Selection of Group 'A' Officers in Customs department is carried out through CSAT exam. The exam is carried out by UPSC. Candidates need to mention their preferred area (like IAS, Revenue Service, etc.) under civil service at the time of application submission itself. There is a separate column for the same in the application form. Some of the tasks they perform- 1. Identifying people to question on the basis of prior offenses/likely risk, etc. 2. Searching baggage and individuals for smuggled items 3. Making arrests of people suspected of smuggling 4. Seizing smuggled goods 5. Checking documentation relating to imported goods 6. Detecting and prosecuting drug smugglers 7. Collecting and supplying trade statistics 8. Writing reports 9. Fighting the increasing problem of alcohol and tobacco smuggling

VISHNU AGARWAL · Answer

Anyone with a Bachelor's degree can get into customs department in India through one of these: 1. UPSC civil services for group A officer. 2. SSC CGL for group B officer. 3. Respective state government exam for state customs department. Responsibilities: Customs officers have a very important job: They need to ensure that people who enter or exit the country do it legally and that they don't bring anything in or take anything out that they shouldn't. A customs officer can work at an airport, at a dock, or any major land port of entry.

Capt Ankur SA · Answer

A wide range of responsibility resides on the shoulders of Customs Officers. They are responsible for helping to prevent the importation of illegal and/or dangerous goods including firearms, drugs, alcohol, tobacco and endangered animals in India. Customs officers are hence trained to remain keen and have a sharp eye on each passenger who comes on or leaves the country from airport or seaport. They are trained to identify any suspect whom they feel like should be carrying any such illegal item. Airport Customs Officer falls under Group A or Class 1 Officers in Indian Administrative Service. Selection of eligible candidates to this post is carried out through Civil Services Examination (CSAT). Graduation in any stream from a recognised educational institution is the basic qualification required to attend the exam. Those who pass CSAT can get into the role of Customs Officer under Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES). Eligibility Requirement to become Airport Customs Officer: Aspirants who have completed their Bachelor's degree from a recognised institute are eligible to apply for the post. The qualifying degree must be obtained in any stream with minimum 55% marks. Those who have completed 21 years of age are only eligible to apply for the post of Customs Officer. Upper age limit for the applicant is 30 years. Candidates belonging to a backward category can expect relaxation in age. CSAT exam is conducted in two stages, preliminary and mains. There will be two compulsory papers for the preliminary exam. Time allotted for answering each paper is 2 hours. Paper I may cover questions on general knowledge and day to day affairs across the globe. Paper II comprises questions on reasoning, mental ability, quantitative aptitude and English Language. Aspirants who pass this preliminary level exam can appear for mains exam. In mains exam, there will be a written exam and interview. There will be 9 papers for the written test, out of which 2 are of qualifying nature. The candidates who get through the written exam will be short-listed for interview round. Those who clear the interview round can get shortlisted for training in Central Excise cadre. Once training is completed successfully, they can join as Customs Officer in international airports. Upon completing probation as Customs Officer they will be promoted to the next level i.e Assistant Commissioner of Customs.

Anish Prabin · Answer

The following are the duties of customs officers: Identifying people to question on the basis of prior offences/likely risk, etc. Searching baggage and individuals for smuggled items Making arrests of people suspected of smuggling Seizing smuggled goods Checking documentation relating to imported goods Detecting and prosecuting drug smugglers Collecting and supplying trade statistics Writing reports Fighting the increasing problem of alcohol and tobacco smuggling Aspirants who have completed their Bachelor degree from a recognized institute are eligible to apply for the post. The qualifying degree must be obtained in any stream with minimum 55% marks. Those who have completed 21 years of age are only eligible to apply for the post of Customs Officer. Upper age limit of the applicant is 30 years. Candidates belonging to backward category can expect relaxation in age.

Siddharth Bhardwaj · Answer

Becoming a custom officer is not an easy task. You have to do a bit struggle to be at that position. There is a certain procedure that you have to follow: Firstly, you have to appear in Civil Service Examination (conducted by Union Public Service Commission) and secure a good rank. You still get almost 27 different categories under which Custom Board is one of them. The Civil Service Exam is conducted in two separate parts. They are the Preliminary and Main Exam. Those who are selected are either sent to Chennai for training in the functions of Customs Department or those selected for Central Excise Service training is done in one of the metropolitan cities. The main responsibility of custom officer is to stop the transporting the illegal stuffs. If you become a customs officer you'll be assisting in the prevention of smuggling, and fighting illegal alcohol and tobacco trade by searching luggage, vehicles and passengers. You duties can involve: Arresting and charging people, preparing statements and reports, working alongside police or the home office, attending court, etc. So you have to be mentally, physically and academically well prepared to be the custom officer.

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