India and Bhutan hold 6th Joint Group of Customs meeting in Thimphu
India and Bhutan held the 6th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting in Thimphu on 24–25 April 2025, co-chaired by CBIC Member (Customs) Surjit Bhujabal and Bhutan's Director General of Revenue and Customs Sonam Jamtsho.
Summary
The 6th India–Bhutan Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 24–25 April 2025. It was co-chaired by Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary and Member (Customs), CBIC, and Sonam Jamtsho, Director General, Department of Revenue and Customs, Bhutan. India is Bhutan's top trade partner, accounting for about 80% of Bhutan's overall trade. There are 10 Land Customs Stations along the India–Bhutan border, in West Bengal (6) and Assam (4). The meeting discussed automation and digitisation of transit processes, coordinated border management, pre-arrival exchange of customs data, a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System.
Key facts
- Meeting
- 6th JGC, Thimphu, 24–25 April 2025
- Co-chairs
- Surjit Bhujabal (CBIC) and Sonam Jamtsho (Bhutan)
- Trade share
- India ~80% of Bhutan's overall trade
- Land Customs Stations
- 10: West Bengal 6, Assam 4
- Topics
- Transit digitisation, CMAA, Electronic Cargo Tracking System
Practice MCQs 2 questions
How many Land Customs Stations are there along the India–Bhutan border, as per the CBIC release on the 6th JGC meeting?
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Correct answer: C — 10
There are 10 Land Customs Stations along the India–Bhutan border: 6 in West Bengal and 4 in Assam.
Consider the following about the 6th India–Bhutan Joint Group of Customs meeting: 1. It was co-chaired by Surjit Bhujabal, Special Secretary and Member (Customs), CBIC. 2. India accounts for about 80% of Bhutan's overall trade. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as per the Finance Ministry release.