E-Way Bill & Goods in Transit

Inspection and verification of goods

Rule 138C of the CGST Rules

Chapter 16 – E-way Bills Text as on 2026-09-05 Source CBIC

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Amendment history

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In one line

A summary of every inspection of goods in transit goes in Part A of EWB-03 within twenty-four hours and the final report in Part B within three days. Once a consignment has been physically verified in one State, it cannot be stopped again in transit unless there is specific information of evasion – the protection against repeated stops.

How this provision is built

The skeleton, clause by clause — useful when a notice cites a specific sub-clause.

(1) A summary report of every inspection of goods in transit shall be recorded online by the proper officer in Part A of FORM GST EWB-03 within twenty four hours of inspection and the final report in Part B of FORM GST EWB-0…
(2) Where the physical verification of goods being transported on any conveyance has been done during transit at one place within the State or Union territory or in any other State or Union territory, No further physical ver…

The exact words of the law

1,183 characters, unedited

Reproduced from the CBIC text. We explain it above — but you should always be able to read it yourself.

Read the full provision+
1 [Rule 138C. Inspection and verification of goods. –

(1) A summary report of every inspection of goods in transit shall be recorded online by the proper officer in Part A of FORM GST EWB-03 within twenty four hours of inspection and the final report in Part B of FORM GST EWB-03 shall be recorded within three days of such inspection. 2 [ Provided that where the circumstances so warrant, the Commissioner, or any other officer authorised by him, may, on sufficient cause being shown, extend the time for recording of the final report in Part B of FORM EWB-03 , for a further period Not exceeding three days. Explanation .- The period of twenty four hours or, as the case may be, three days shall be counted from the midnight of the date on which the vehicle was intercepted.]

(2) Where the physical verification of goods being transported on any conveyance has been done during transit at one place within the State or Union territory or in any other State or Union territory, No further physical verification of the said conveyance shall be carried out again in the State or Union territory, unless a specific information relating to evasion of tax is made available subsequently.

What changed, and when

The amendment trail, newest first — because the version that applies to your case depends on the period.

2018-06-19 · Inserted

28/2018-CTdated1

Inserted vide Notification No. 28/2018- CT dated 19.06.2018.

2018-03-07 · Substituted

12/2018-C

Substituted by Notification No.12/2018-C.T. , dated 07.03.2018.

Where this comes from

Text reproduced from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, as available on 2026-09-05. The explanation and practice notes above are GSTZone’s own, written for this hub. If you spot anything out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it — this hub is checked daily against CBIC.

rule 138Cinspection and verification of goods

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