Permanent Account Number (PAN) has been made mandatory for private firms seeking central excise registration.

The registration will now be given within two days of filing online applications, as per the new simplified rules formed by the Finance Ministry "to improve the ease in doing business in manufacturing". 

Applicants seeking registration shall mandatorily quote PAN of the proprietor or the legal entity being registered in the application form, a Finance Ministry order said.

"Government departments are exempted from the requirement of quoting PAN in their online application. Applicants other than government departments shall not be granted registration in the absence of PAN," it said.

Applicant shall also quote his or her e-mail address