Tips to prepare for Regulation 6 of the CBrLR 2018

Regulation 6 of the CBrLR 2018 provides guidance for conducting an examination of applicants for Customs Brokers License with eligibility criteria specified in Regulation 5. The number of applicants each year increases in comparison to earlier years. There is an urgent need for many qualified and well read, conversant and professionals Customs Broker especially in the new EXIM locations i.e., the AFS; ICD’s and new ports coming up all over the country. Custom Clearance is truly “Knowledge based” it is Part of “Knowledge industry”. Custom Brokers have an unique place in India’s economy and their importance cannot be undermined. It is for Custom Brokers individually and collectively to assist Indian Customs in the execution of their role. Besides Revenue Collection and Enforcement functions Customs have many other roles to perform. They are broadly summarized as: community protection; trade statistics; audit; implemental trade agreements; foreign trade policy and border protection etc. Before starting preparations candidates need to ponder on a few realities:
• When was the last time candidate wrote an exam paper?
• Does she / he remember sitting in one place for nearly 3 hours without getting up; talking to anyone; no tea/coffee and writing?
It is to be remembered that the exam is of ‘Domain knowledge.’ While preparing for the exam please read up as much as possible and remember that knowledge and proper application of the same alone will enable you make a good; capable; respected professional undertaking Custom Clearance. Please do not do your preparations only to crack the exam. Please remember that this self-study will require a lot of concentration and consistency for you to be able to understand the same and remember the important points that you need to know. Once you clear the written paper you shall have to appear for an oral interview.
The Syllabus for the examinations is very wide and not closed ended. The wordings are “may include”.
Regulation 6 gives you a broad syllabus.
• Kindly ensure that you cover the whole syllabus.
• Read up as much material as you may find on each topic.
• Read the same as many times as possible.
• Write as you study.
• Preferably study alone.
• Put in at least 4 hours daily from now onwards on preparations.
• Read up related subjects/topics also – INCOTERMS; WTO; WCO; Customs in the modern times; Evolution of Customs in the liberalized economy of India – these will help you write better, more qualified, and structured answers.
The candidates have the option to answer either in Hindi or in English.
The best resource would be www.cbic.gov.in Customs and GST. Make sure you refer to everything here once at least. It is recommended that you read the index of The Customs Act 1962 8 to 10 times. To familiarize you with the Act; it’s structing, and the details covered. Do not read the Act till you have a fair idea of the number of chapters; and the sections covered in it. Make it a practice for as long as you prepare to read the index at least once daily. A continuous reading thereafter making notes or marking details should start.
The Act is easily learnt by learning in the following order:
• Chapter 1; 2; 3;
• Chapter 17;
• Chapter 4; 4A; 4B; 4C;
• Chapters 5; 5A; 5AA; 7; 7A; 9; 10;
• Chapters 5B; 6; 8; 11; 12; 12A; 12B;
• Chapters 13; 14; 14A; 15; 16;
Once you have done the above then start reading the different Regulations; Rules; PN’s Circulars and the other notes sent to you. The exam is a MCQ (Multiple choice questions) examinations in English and Hindi. The Candidate is asked 150 questions to be answered in 150 minutes, with each correct answer earning the candidate 3 marks and each wrong answer awarding minus one. The passing is 60%. The exam is to test your domain knowledge and the MCQ’s would be designed to enable the department judge the same. There is a tendency to ask you twisted questions – please read question very carefully and answer.
Such a preparation will also reflect in the way you will work yourself in the future. Please remember that Custom Clearance is dynamic- processes would change; Government Policies would change; expectations of importers and exporters would change. This makes it all the more important that you study for retention of knowledge and growth of the individual. Always remember that every consignment small or big; for import or export would require you to use all that you learn for this exam. You shall be compelled to use their knowledge for the rest of your working career.
The author is Samir J Shah, Chief Mentor & Director JBS Academy