GSTN Advisory on Business Continuity for e-Invoice and e-Waybill Systems

The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has issued an advisory on Business Continuity for e-Invoice and e-Waybill Systems.

This advisory is issued to highlight the alternate mechanisms and business continuity plans available for both the e-Invoice and e-Waybill systems.

If you have not yet integrated or are not already using these alternate mechanisms, GSTN recommends that you coordinate with your system integrators, IRPs, ERPs, GSPs, or ASPs to enable these redundancies. This would ensure that these mechanisms are fully operational and available when required.

Multi IRPs for e-Invoice Reporting

To provide redundancy and ensure continuity, six Invoice Registration Portals (IRPs) are operational:

1. NIC-IRP 1

2. NIC-IRP 2

3. Cygnet IRP

4. Clear IRP

5. EY IRP

6. IRIS IRP

Both NIC-IRP 1 and 2 portals are interoperable, allowing seamless switch-over between them during service disruptions. These features may be tested in the NIC sandbox environment that can be accessed at GSTN e – Invoice API Developer’s Portal. Additionally, if NIC-IRP is down any of the other e-Invoice IRPs listed above could also be used.

Dual Portals for e-Waybill Services

Similar redundancy is provided for e-Waybill operations with two portals:

1. eWaybill1

2. eWaybill2

Unified Authentication Token at NIC-IRP and e-Waybill Portal

A single authentication token can be generated from any of the NIC-IRP e-Invoice1 and e-Invoice2 and NIC: e-Waybill and e-Waybill2.

Once generated, this token is valid across all NIC portals, eliminating the need for separate tokens for each platform.

API Interoperability for Seamless Operations

Taxpayers using APIs can take advantage of cross-portal operations by configuring their systems or ensuring this with respective solution provider accordingly:

i. Accessing NIC1 e-Invoice Services via NIC2 APIs: By passing “NIC1” value in “irp” API header for APIs at einvoice2.

ii. Accessing NIC2 e-Invoice Services via NIC1 APIs: By passing “NIC2” value in “irp” API header for APIs at einvoice1.

iii. Supported e-Invoice APIs for cross operations

a. Get IRN Details
b. Cancel IRN
c. Get IRN Details by Doc. Details
d. Generate e-Waybill by IRN
e. Get e-Waybill details by IRN

iv. For e-way bill cross operation, currently 1) Get e-way bill details and 2) Part B update APIs are available to be used interoperable via eWaybill1

and eWaybill2.

Actions Recommended for Taxpayer

1. Direct API Access: Verify that your systems support cross-portal interoperability for seamless service access.

2. Coordination with Service Providers: Engage with your IRP, ERPs, GSPs, or ASPs to ensure alternate mechanisms are enabled and fully integrated into your systems.

3. Explore Additional IRPs: In addition to NIC-IRP 1 and 2, other IRPs are also available for use.

This advisory is issued to ensure that taxpayers are connected with the necessary backup to maintain seamless operations during any service disruptions. For further assistance, please contact your system integrators, service providers, or the GST helpdesk. More details available at respective IRPs and e-waybill portal.