The Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, on February 26, 2026 launched SWIFT 2.0 (Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade), a landmark upgrade to India’s digital trade facilitation framework developed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). This next-generation platform aims to significantly enhance ease of doing business by ensuring faster international cargo clearances, greater transparency, and improved predictability in cross-border transactions. As highlighted in the SWIFT 2.0 booklet released during the event, the upgraded system marks a critical leap from the earlier single-window architecture by integrating 63 Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) into a unified digital interface, thereby eliminating the need for traders to approach multiple portals for approvals, licences, permits, certificates and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
SWIFT 2.0 introduces a fully Integrated Declaration, enabling traders to submit all regulatory data once, with the system automatically transmitting relevant information to all concerned agencies. The platform’s new Unified Application Dashboard further streamlines processes by allowing importers, exporters, and customs brokers to track the status of their applications, respond to queries, schedule inspections, make electronic payments, and receive coordinated decisions through a single window. This harmonised approach overcomes long-standing challenges of fragmented submissions, siloed decision-making, and redundant paperwork, issues that have historically increased clearance timelines—particularly for consignments involving food, drugs, plant, animal, and wildlife products, which constitute a major share of interdicted cargo.
The booklet notes that SWIFT 2.0 offers several key innovations, including a Compliance Repository for secure storage of active NOCs, licences and permits; a robust Management Information System (MIS) for data-driven oversight; and an enhanced digital infrastructure that brings PGAs onto CBIC’s IT backbone, ensuring a Whole-of-Government service delivery model. Agencies such as FSSAI, AQCS, CDSCO, WCCB and MeiTY are already integrated, enabling fully digital and coordinated regulatory processing. By facilitating parallel reviews and unified communication, SWIFT 2.0 is expected to substantially reduce Average Release Time (ART), which has historically been higher for consignments requiring multi-agency intervention, as indicated in the booklet’s analysis of Time Release Study data.
The initiative aligns strongly with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Government’s wider agenda of enhancing India’s global trade competitiveness. It also advances the national mission of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, with SWIFT 2.0 representing a forward-looking governance model that places transparency, efficiency and user-centricity at the core of cross-border trade administration. To support nationwide adoption, CBIC has initiated structured training programmes, including online Pahal sessions, agency-specific training, helpdesk strengthening and comprehensive user manuals and tutorials accessible on ICEGATE, ensuring smooth onboarding for all stakeholders.
An informative booklet detailing the vision, architecture, key features, benefits, implementation strategy, roles and responsibilities, and FAQs of SWIFT 2.0 was also released during the launch event. The document underscores that SWIFT 2.0 is not merely a technological upgrade but a transformative framework aimed at building a unified, paperless, and intelligence-driven regulatory environment for India’s EXIM community. With this major milestone, India takes a decisive step towards creating a seamless, predictable and world-class trade facilitation system, fulfilling the Government’s vision of “One Government, One Interface” and enhancing the nation’s standing in the global trading ecosystem.
The SWIFT 2.0 booklet can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SWIFT-Booklet-without-message_260226_205501.pdf
