Former President Kovind Calls for Action Against Counterfeiting at MASCRADE 2026

Addressing the FICCI-CASCADE ‘MASCRADE 2026’ conference, former President of India Mr. Ram Nath Kovind stated that trust forms the invisible foundation of any healthy economy, which smuggling and counterfeiting gradually erode. Highlighting the conference theme, ‘One World, One Fight: Eliminating Counterfeiting and Smuggling Through Collective Action’, he drew parallels with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of one earth, one family, and one future. Furthermore, Mr. Kovind outlined three core ideas about India that must be defended together: Bharat as Vishwaguru, India as a global manufacturing hub via Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the empowered Indian consumer. He also noted that while advanced tools like AI and data analytics are crucial for modern enforcement, international cooperation and intelligence sharing remain indispensable.

Insights from CBIC and FICCI Leadership on Illicit Networks:
Mr. Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), warned that the illicit economy now mimics legitimate infrastructure by utilizing formal logistics, digital platforms, and financial channels to operate parallel supply chains. Highlighting enforcement milestones, he noted that during the financial year 2024-25, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence booked over 3,000 commercial cases involving roughly ₹4,000 crore in evaded duties.

Echoing these concerns, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman of FICCI CASCADE, defined the fight against illicit trade as a crucial security and governance imperative, introducing the UNITE framework (Unified Intelligence, Networked Enforcement, Innovation, Trusted Trade, and Empowered Citizens) for collaborative action. FICCI Secretary General Mr. Anant Swarup and Amazon India CFO and FICCI CASCADE Member Mr. Kapil Hathi also stressed that counterfeiters are growing increasingly sophisticated, requiring enhanced technological investments, advanced borderless cooperation, and robust consumer awareness. Additionally, the event marked the official release of the FICCI-KPMG report titled ‘Illicit Trade in India: Economic Impact, Enforcement Challenges and the Path Forward’.