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Core Purpose

Notification exempting certain imported works of art, memorials, and antiques from the whole of the duty of customs under Section 25(1) of the Customs Act, 1962, subject to specified conditions.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) issued Notification No. 29/2025-Customs, G.S.R. 302(E) on 9th May, 2025, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962). The Central Government, deeming it necessary in the public interest, exempted goods described in the TABLE from the whole of the duty of customs leviable under the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), when imported into India. The exempted goods include works of art (statuary, pictures) for public exhibition in museums or art galleries, works of art (memorials of a public character) for public places, and antiques (as defined under The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972) for public exhibition in museums or art galleries. This exemption is subject to conditions specified in the ANNEXURE. Condition 1 requires the importing museum/art gallery to be the owner/purchaser, the importer to submit an undertaking to the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Customs for public exhibition use only (with liability for duty if violated), and the importer to produce a certificate from an "Authorized Officer" (per Ministry of Culture Gazette Notification dated 28.05.2015) confirming the museum/gallery allows unrestricted public access and is housed in a suitable building. Condition 2, applicable to antiques, requires registration with the Archaeological Survey of India within 90 days of importation. The notification references File No. 190354/72/2024-TRU and is signed by Dheeraj Sharma, Under Secy.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-09052025-263006 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 259] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025/VAISAKHA 19, 1947 MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Department of Revenue) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 9th May, 2025 No. 29/2025-Customs G.S.R. 302(E). - In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts goods of the description specified in column (2) of the TABLE below and falling within the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), when imported into India, from the whole of the duty of customs leviable thereon specified in the said Schedule, subject to the relevant conditions specified in the Annexure to this notification, the Condition number of which is referred to in the corresponding entry in column (3) of the said TABLE. TABLE +-----+---------------------------------------------+----------------+ | S. No. | Description of goods | Condition No. | +=====+=============================================+================+ | (1) | (2) | (3) | +-----+---------------------------------------------+----------------+ | 1. | Works of art including statuary and pictures| 1 | | | intended for public exhibition in | | | | a museum or art gallery | | +-----+---------------------------------------------+----------------+ | 2. | Works of art namely memorials of a public | 1 | | | character intended to be put up in a public | | | | place including, materials used or to be | | | | used in their construction, whether worked | | | | or not | | +-----+---------------------------------------------+----------------+ | 3. | Antiques and all items under the definition | 1 and 2 | | | of "antiquity" under 'The Antiquities and | | | | Art Treasures Act, 1972" that is intended | | | | for public exhibition in any museum or art | | | | gallery | | +-----+---------------------------------------------+----------------+ ANNEXURE +---------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Condition No. | Condition | +===============+================================================================+ | 1. | If,- | | | i. the establishment operating such a museum or an art | | | gallery is itself the importer being the purchaser or | | | owner of such works of art or antiques; | | | ii. the importer submits an undertaking before the | | | Assistant Commissioner of customs or the Deputy | | | Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, that the | | | goods so imported shall be used for public exhibition | | | and shall not be sold or traded after importation and | | | that in case of failure to comply with this condition,| | | he shall be liable to pay, in respect of such | | | quantity of the said goods as is proved to be not | | | being so used for the specified purposes, an amount | | | equal to the duty leviable on such quantity but for | | | the exemption under this notification; and | | | iii. the importer produces a certificate issued by | | | "Authorized Officer" as per the Ministry of Culture's | | | Gazette Notification dated 28.05.2015 certifying that-| | | a. the importer runs a museum or an art gallery which| | | allows unrestricted access to public; and | | | b. the building housing such a museum or gallery is | | | clearly meant for the operation of a museum or art| | | gallery. | +---------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. | Such antiquities are registered with the Archaeological Survey | | | of India within 90 days from the date of importation. | +---------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+ [F. No. 190354/72/2024-TRU] DHEERAJ SHARMA, Under Secy.

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