There are two customs clearance channels. The green channel is for travellers carrying non-dutiable items while the red channel is for travellers carrying dutiable items.

Duty-free items
Duty-free items which you may bring to India include personal effects like clothing and other articles but not if this is commercial merchandise. All expensive electronic equipment must be declared at the Customs on arrival - which will be re-checked on departure. Take care to obtain an Export Certificate for these items if you are travelling to neighbouring countries and intend a multiple entry.

You cannot bring in gold coins, gold or silver bullion into the country. Weapons brought into the country should be licensed and declared. Any cash or travellers cheques over US$ 10,000 or equivalent must be declared. Possession of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
Personal effects which are not used during your stay must be carried back by you.
Gifts worth Rs 4,000 for tourists of foreign origin and Rs. 12,000 for tourists of Indian origin, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gm of tobacco, one litre each of wine and spirits is allowed free of duty.

Mishandled/Lost Baggage
If your baggage is mishandled or lost in transit, obtain a certificate to this effect from the airline and have it countersigned by the Customs, indicating specifically how much of your duty-free allowance is unutilised.

Customs Enquiry/Complaints
Assistant Collector of Customs at the international airport OR Commissioner of Customs, New Customs House, Near IGI Airport, New Delhi - 110 037 Ph : 5652990; E-mail : cusdel@excise.nic.in
Custom Home Page : http://konark.ncst.ernet.in/customs/

Customs on Departure

Prohibited items of export :

• Gold jewellery valued at above Rs. 6,000.

• Animal skins or skin products.

• Antiques (over 100 years old).

• For verification, contact Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi. Tel. 3019451 or ASI Offices in other states.

• Wild plants, seeds or parts.

Visitors leaving India in less than six months are exempt from Income Tax clearance procedures, but it is advisable to keep your encashment certificates handy in case of an enquiry.

Foreign Travel Tax must be paid by all tourists on departure - Rs. 150 for departures to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives and Rs. 500 for all other countries.