How to Become an Excise Inspector: A Comprehensive Guide

An excise inspector is a government officer who is responsible for collecting customs, central excise duties, and service tax on goods imported to or exported from the country through ports and airports. They also prevent smuggling and ensure compliance with the tax laws and regulations. An excise inspector plays an important role in the revenue generation and security of the country.

If you are interested in becoming an excise inspector, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria, clear a competitive examination, and undergo training and probation. In this article, we will discuss the steps involved in becoming an excise inspector, the job description, the career prospects, and the salary and allowances of this prestigious post.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for becoming an excise inspector, you need to fulfill the following criteria:

• Educational Qualification: You need to have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution. There is no minimum percentage or specific subject requirement for this post.
• Age Limit: You need to be between 18 to 30 years of age as on 1st January of the year of examination. However, there are relaxations for certain categories as per the government rules. For example, SC/ST candidates get a relaxation of 5 years, OBC candidates get a relaxation of 3 years, and PwD candidates get a relaxation of 10 years in the upper age limit.
• Physical Standards: You need to meet certain physical standards as prescribed by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). For example, for male candidates, the minimum height required is 157.5 cm, the chest measurement should be 81 cm (with a minimum expansion of 5 cm), and the weight should be proportionate to height and age. For female candidates, the minimum height required is 152 cm, and the weight should be at least 48 kg.

Selection Process

To become an excise inspector, you need to clear the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination, which is conducted by the SSC every year. The selection process consists of three stages:

• Preliminary Examination: This is an online objective test that consists of two papers: General Intelligence and Reasoning (50 questions for 50 marks), and General Awareness (50 questions for 50 marks). The duration of each paper is one hour. You need to qualify in both papers separately to be eligible for the next stage.
• Main Examination: This is also an online objective test that consists of four papers: Quantitative Abilities (100 questions for 200 marks), English Language and Comprehension (200 questions for 200 marks), Statistics (100 questions for 200 marks), and General Studies (Finance and Economics) (100 questions for 200 marks). The duration of each paper is two hours. You need to qualify in all four papers separately to be eligible for the next stage.
• Personality Test: This is a face-to-face interview that carries 100 marks. You will be assessed on your personality traits, communication skills, general knowledge, and suitability for the post.

To prepare for the SSC CGL Examination, you need to follow a systematic study plan that covers all the topics and subjects in the syllabus. You also need to practice mock tests, previous year papers, and current affairs regularly to improve your speed, accuracy, and confidence.

Job Description

As an excise inspector, you will have two types of postings: desk job or field job. Depending on your posting, your duties and responsibilities will vary.

• Desk Job: If you are posted in a desk job, you will be mainly involved in clerical work such as preparing reports, verifying documents, maintaining records, handling queries, etc. You will also influence the work environment and take measures to improve the efficiency of the team.
• Field Job: If you are posted in a field job, you will be mainly involved in inspecting goods on-ground such as checking seals, licenses, invoices, etc. You will also coordinate with manufacturers and businesses regarding tax compliance. In some cases, you may also assist in raids and searches for illegal products.

As an excise inspector, you will face many challenges such as dealing with influential people, working under pressure, handling corruption cases, etc. To overcome these challenges, you need to be strong, brave, hardworking, and tactful.

Career Prospects

As an excise inspector, you will have a bright career path with many opportunities for growth and promotion. You will start your career as a Group B officer under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). With experience and performance, you can get promoted to higher ranks such as Superintendent (Group B Gazetted), Assistant Commissioner (Group A), Deputy Commissioner (Group A), Joint Commissioner (Group A), etc.

Read:

• CBDT Tax Assistant: Job Profile, Salary, and Career Growth
• How to Become a Custom Officer

You can also get deputed to other departments such as CBI or Customs depending on your interest and suitability. You can also appear for departmental exams or civil services exams to enhance your career prospects.

The career growth of an excise inspector is as follows:

• Excise Inspector (Group B)
• Superintendent (Group B Gazetted)
• Assistant Commissioner (Group A)
• Deputy Commissioner (Group A)
• Joint Commissioner (Group A)

Salary and Allowances

The salary and allowances of an excise inspector are determined by the pay scale of Rs. 44,900-1,44,600, with a grade pay of 4600. The salary may vary depending on the location and the allowances applicable. The allowances include:

• Dearness Allowance (DA): This is calculated as a percentage of the basic pay and is revised periodically. Currently, it is 17% of the basic pay.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): This is calculated as a percentage of the basic pay and depends on the city of posting. Currently, it is 24% for X cities, 16% for Y cities, and 8% for Z cities.
• Transport Allowance (TA): This is a fixed amount given to cover the cost of commuting. Currently, it is Rs. 3600 for X cities and Rs. 1800 for other cities.
• Other Allowances: These include medical allowance, petrol allowance, mobile bill allowance, etc.

The salary and allowances of an excise inspector are comparable to other government jobs such as Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Audit Officer, etc.

The Bottom Line

To become an excise inspector, you need to have a bachelor’s degree, meet the age and physical criteria, clear the SSC CGL Examination, and undergo training and probation. As an excise inspector, you will have a challenging and rewarding job that involves collecting taxes, preventing smuggling, and ensuring compliance. You will also have a promising career path with many opportunities for growth and promotion.

If you are interested in becoming an excise inspector, you should start your preparation now and apply for the SSC CGL Examination when the notification is released. You can also join online courses or coaching classes to get expert guidance and support.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions related to becoming an excise inspector:

Q: How many vacancies are there for excise inspector in SSC CGL?

A: The number of vacancies for excise inspector in SSC CGL varies every year depending on the requirement of the department. For example, in SSC CGL 2023, there are 1113 vacancies for excise inspector.

Q: What is the cut off for excise inspector in SSC CGL?

A: The cut off for excise inspector in SSC CGL depends on various factors such as the number of candidates, the difficulty level of the exam, the reservation policy, etc. For example, in SSC CGL 2018, the cut off for excise inspector was 130.18 marks out of 200 in Tier 1.

Q: What is the difference between excise inspector and income tax inspector?

A: Both excise inspector and income tax inspector are Group B posts under SSC CGL. However, they work in different departments and have different roles and responsibilities. An excise inspector works under CBIC and deals with customs, central excise duties, and service tax on goods imported to or exported from the country. An income tax inspector works under CBDT and deals with income tax on individuals and organizations.