Cabinet Secretariat Expands DPG Jurisdiction to Income Tax and CBIC (Customs) [Read Order]

The Government of India formally extended the authority of the Directorate of Public Grievances ( DPG ), which is housed within the Cabinet Secretariat, to include matters pertaining to the Income Tax Department and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs ( CBIC ) regarding customs matters in in a move to improve the grievance redressal procedures.

On June 16, 2025, the Cabinet Secretariat issued a notification [No. A-11013/01/2025-Ad-I(E)] utilizing the authority granted by its founding resolution of March 25, 1988, which established the Directorate of Public Grievances.

The DPG's authority has now been expanded to encompass the Department of Revenue (Income Tax) and the CBIC, notably for concerns pertaining to customs, with the Competent Authority's consent.

By providing taxpayers and import-export stakeholders with an elevated platform to file complaints about procedural delays, inefficiencies, and gaps in administrative conduct within the purview of these important departments, this represents a major institutional shift in the redressal of public grievances.

The Income Tax Department and CBIC, as core revenue arms of the Ministry of Finance, directly interface with millions of taxpayers, businesses, and traders. Until now, grievance redress in these departments primarily operated through internal channels such as the CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), Ombudsman mechanisms (now discontinued in Income Tax), and departmental escalation matrices.

An increased degree of inspection is introduced by placing Income Tax and Customs concerns under the DPG's purview, giving taxpayers access to an impartial, powerful entity that answers directly to the Cabinet Secretariat.

Role of Directorate of Public Grievances

The Government of India's Cabinet Secretariat's DPG assists in obtaining answers to unresolved complaints regarding issues pertaining to specific Central Government Departments and Organizations. DPG can assist you in getting a response and resolution from the department or organization about these complaints.

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