Currency & Regulations:
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign
currency or Traveler Cheques a tourist may import,
provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival.
This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency
as well as the export of unspent currency at the time
of departure. Cash, Bank Notes and Traveler Cheques
up to US$ 10,000 or equivalent need not be declared
at the time of entry. Any money in the form of Travelers
Cheques, Drafts, Bills, Cheques etc. which tourists
wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged
only through authorized money changers and a receipt
of changed money be taken.
Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is
not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency.
To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money
changer is an offense. Please note that no Indian Currency whatsoever can
be imported or exported, except for Rupee Travelers Cheques. Banks abroad
do keep rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw
upon these balances to issue Rupee Travelers Cheques to intending tourists.
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Etiquette and Customs:
India is a vast country having different customs which are followed
in different parts of the country. You may find the metros more liberal
and cosmopolitan as would be the case anywhere in the world and you
may come across various unusual customs as you move into the hinterland,
which are preserved over thousands of years. You may also find that
in general, the attitude to life is vastly different compared to
your part of the world.
However, Indians are a hospitable people and usually
take in their stride your different ways. Nevertheless, there may be certain
situations where you not following the accepted norm will be seen as a sign of
disrespect .These are the situations you need to know about.
- Always remove your shoes before entering a holy place such as a temple,
gurudwara or mosque. Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) and tomb of Muslim holy
men will also require you to cover your head. In general, dress conservatively
at a place of worship.
- Do not touch any holy object with the feet or your left hand. Also,
do not give ,take or point at anything with the left hand. If you are
required to eat with your fingers at any place your right hand.
- Public show of personal affection is generally disapproved of, particularly
in smaller cities and villages. Avoid it.
- Avoid wearing clothes that bare your arms and legs especially in
smaller cities and villages in particular. Metros are fairly liberal
in this respect.
- Always follow the rules written on notice boards at holy places.
These may include leather objects not allowed, cameras not allowed,
menstruating woman not allowed, and so on and so forth .
- Giving tips is customary but not mandatory. At restaurants, the usual
rule of 5-10 percent applies while giving tips. The trick is if you
want quicker service you tip.
- Bargaining for a lesser price is a fairly common fact of day to day
life ,especially at local bazaars, with rickshaws and with autorikshaws
branded. However, recognized and larger shops, departmental stores
will usually charge fixed prices.
- IST stands for Indian Standard Time but people will smile and inform
you that it may be read as Indian 'Stretchable' Time nothing always
move as per schedule in India!
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Formalities
and Regulations:
For purposes of
customs, a 'Tourist' is defined
as a person not normally resident in India, who
enters India for a period up to 6 months in the
course of any 12 months period, for legitimate
non immigration purposes. Passengers who are covered
by this definition, except passengers of Nepali
origin arriving from Nepal, will be entitled to
concessions under the tourist baggage rules 1978,
whether they of happen to possess Tourist, Transit
or Entry visa or not.
Baggage declaration : Visitors are generally
required to make oral baggage declaration in respect of baggage
and foreign currency in their possession if it is more than the
permitted limit, in which case they will have to obtain a Currency
Declaration Form before leaving customs. They should fill in
the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the respective
airlines during the course of the flight.
Articles allowed free of duty : If you are eligible
to avail concessions under the Tourist Baggage Rules 1978, duty
free imports of the following items is allowed:
Personal Effects : All personal effects like
clothing and other articles, which you reasonably require during
your period of stay. These include personal jewelry, 1 camera
with 12 plates or 5 rolls of films, 1 miniature cine-camera with
2 reels of film, 1 pair of binoculars, 1 portable typewriter,
1 pram, 1 tent and other camping equipment, sports equipment
such as 1 fishing outfit, 1 non-powered bicycle, 1 Canoe or Kayak
less than 5.5 meter's, 2 pair of skis, 2 tennis rackets.
Professional equipment : you are also allowed
to bring free of duty the following articles, on the condition
that these will be re-exported. (I) Audio-Visual aids including
slides and films for demonstration and instructional purposes
(ii) professional equipment, instruments, apparatus or appliances
including cine/television equipment.
Souvenirs : travel souvenirs up to a value of
Rs.2000 are allowed provided they are not intended for commercial
purposes.
Gifts : Maximum value of goods imported for
personal use or to be give as gifts for tourists holding foreign
passports : Rs.5000 and for tourists holding Indian passports
: Rs.5000.
Articles NOT allowed free of duty:
- motorcycle, scooter or moped.
- Cigarettes exceeding 200, or cigars exceeding
50, or tobacco exceeding 250 gms
- alcoholic liquor exceeding 1 liter
Tourist, whether of foreign or Indian origin,
are allowed to import duty free: 200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars or 250 gms of tobacco and alcoholic
liquor up to 1 liter.
Duty : In addition to the gift items mentioned
above, goods up to the value of Rs.5000 for non-resident Indians
and Rs.5000 for foreigners are exempt from the duty. Any articles
over and above the prescribed limit are liable to duty from 100%
to 62% depending upon the type of article. For further information
contact the Consular section of the nearest Indian mission near
your home.
Import of weapons : Import of weapons is prohibited.
Inquire at the Indian mission before departure for full details.
Prohibited articles : The import of certain
articles such as dangerous drugs, live plants, gold coins, gold
and silver bullion and silver coins not is current use, is either
totally prohibited or restricted. The law provides heavy penalties
for infringement of this restriction. Enquire at the Indian mission
for further details.
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Foreign travel
tax:
Passengers embarking on journeys to any place
outside India from a customs airport / seaport
will have to pay a foreign travel tax (FTT) of
Rs.150 on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the
Maldives and Rs.500 to all other countries. Transit
passengers traveling by air who have to leave the
airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue
their journey by the same aircraft and the same
flight number by which they arrive are also exempt
from FTT. Also PSF @ Rs.200 for all tickets issued
in Indian Rupees and US Dollar 5 is charged for
each point of embarkation in India w.e.f. 1 April
2001. |
