Central Excise Day (24 February) History, Significance, Theme and Observation

Central Excise Day Quick Facts

Central Excise Day Brief

Every year on 24 February, 'Central Excise Day' is celebrated across the country. The Central Excise and Salt Act was enacted on this day in the year 1944. The Central Excise Department has an important role in the industrial development of the country. This department reformed the tax system and increased the use of techniques to make the payment of taxes easier.

Central Excise Day History

This Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the implementation of the Central Excise and Salt Act on 24 February 1944.

Central Excise Day Objective

Central Excise Day is celebrated across the country on 24 February by the Central Excise and Customs Department under the Union Ministry of Finance. The aim of celebrating Central Excise Day is to make the common people aware of the importance of excise duty and service duty.

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What is the meaning of Excise Duty or what is called Excise Duty?

“Excise Duty” or Excise is an indirect tax levied on goods manufactured in India for domestic consumption. The tax is levied on 'Manufacturing' and the Central Excise Duty becomes payable as soon as the goods are manufactured. It is a tax levied on manufacturing that is paid by the manufacturer, who passes on their tax burden to the customers.

Details of Central Board of Excise and Customs:

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It formulates policies relating to levy and collection of central excise and customs duties.

It also deals with matters relating to the prevention of smuggling and Customs, Central Excise and Narcotics related to the administration under the Jurisdiction of CBEC. The Board is the administrative authority of its subordinate organizations including Custom Houses, Central Excise Commissionerate and Central Revenue Control Laboratory.

The Chairman, who is the ex-officio Special Secretary to the Government of India, heads the CBEC. In addition, the CBEC consists of five members, who are ex-officio Additional Secretaries to the Government of India. The chairman and members of the CBEC are selected from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), India's premier civil service.

These members constitute the top management of the Central Excise and Customs Department. Support members of the CBEC are selected from the IRS and other major civil services in the country and are supported by several affiliated offices.

Important Facts related to Central Excise Day:

1. Central Excise is one of the oldest department of India established by the British in 1855.
2. The Central Excise Act, 1944 was known as the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944 before the year 1996.
3. Presently the Central Excise Department has 23 Zones, 100 Commissionerates, 460 Divisions for Tax Collection and 2614 Ranges for Law Enforcement activities across India.
4. A law has been made in 2013 for arrests in service tax cases. Whereas the power to arrest the Central Excise officers was given by the Central Government in 1973.
5. The Central Excise Department has been awarded the Best Anti Smuggling Agency award for the most number of times in comparison to government agencies BSF, ED, NCB, Income Tax, ITBP, etc.
6. DGCEI, the intelligence agency of the Central Excise, was established in 1979. Until 2000, the agency was known as the Directorate General of ATVision. With just 300 officers, DGCEI detected the highest number of cases of revenue theft as compared to other agencies.

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