Exercise books

Exercise books, paper or paperboard stationery

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4820 20 00 (Exercise books) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022. Import policy is Free subject to PIMS registration, which requires advance online submission at imports.gov.in and payment of a registration fee of ₹500 to obtain an automatic Registration Number valid for 75 days.

What this is

HSN code

4820 20 00

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) 2022 Free policy subject to compulsory PIMS registration, Chapter 48

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Registration expiry date on Bill of Entry
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PIMSPIMS·Paper Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Apply for PIMS registration at imports.gov.in not earlier than the 75th day and not later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 to obtain the automatic Registration Number, which is valid for 75 days and permits multiple Bills of Entry for the permitted quantity within that validity period.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 48 policy condition
2
Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date in the Bill of Entry to enable customs clearance. Failure to quote a current, valid Registration Number will prevent out-of-charge; consignments filed without a valid PIMS number are subject to detention pending regularisation.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, obtain PIMS registration at the point of import into those units. A DTA unit taking delivery from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU does not require fresh PIMS registration unless processing has occurred that changes the 8-digit HS code and the processed item falls within a PIMS-covered tariff line.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misreading the 75-day application window as a post-arrival grace period. PIMS registration must be obtained before the consignment arrives — the application window closes on the 5th day prior to expected arrival — and a Registration Number obtained after the vessel berths has no curing effect; the consignment is liable to detention and demurrage until a prospective registration is resolved with DGFT. The 75-day validity runs from grant, not from arrival, so back-to-back shipments under one registration must clear within that window for the permitted quantity.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4820 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, exercise books of paper or paperboard are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Paper Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020, with the tariff line classified as Free subject to compulsory PIMS registration.

How long is the PIMS Registration Number valid, and can it cover multiple shipments?

The automatic Registration Number is valid for 75 days from the date of grant, and multiple Bills of Entry are permitted under the same registration number within the validity period, subject to the permitted quantity ceiling.

Is PIMS registration required when an EOU or SEZ unit clears exercise books into the Domestic Tariff Area?

A DTA unit is exempt from PIMS registration on DTA clearance from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU only if no processing has occurred and the 8-digit HS code is unchanged; if processing has changed the tariff classification to another PIMS-covered line, the DTA importer must register under PIMS per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: PIMS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.