Centre has formally designated its core customs and indirect tax digital platforms as “critical information infrastructure” under the Information Technology Act, a move that significantly tightens cybersecurity controls and restricts system access to a small pool of authorised users. In a notification issued late on Friday, the Department of Revenue said the Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange Gateway (ICEGATE), the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) and the Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax (ACES-GST) portal-- along with their databases and interconnected systems--will now be treated as protected systems under India’s cyber law.