Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Operations Module – Producers, Importers and Brand

Owners (PIBOs)

General
Q1. How is the Operations module accessed?

Log in to the Common EPR Portal using the SSO ID, open the Plastic Waste
Management module, select the applicable Applicant Type (Producer / Importer / Brand
Owner) and Sub-Applicant Type, click Select Unit and choose the required unit, then
navigate to Operations and select Procurement Details, Sales Details, or Annual Return.

Q2. Why are no units displayed in the Select Unit pop-up?

The pop-up displays only the units (applications) mapped to the logged-in account. If it is
empty, the account may not yet be linked to an approved application/unit. Verify that the
application is approved and mapped to the account.

Q3. What is a "unit", and why must one be selected first?

A unit is a single approved application/registration. Every entry is saved against the selected
unit ID. The correct unit must be selected before adding or reviewing data; otherwise, entries
may be recorded against the wrong unit.

Q4. What is the difference between Single Entry and Bulk Entry?

Single Entry adds one record at a time through a form. Bulk Entry adds multiple records
together using an Excel template (with a corresponding invoice ZIP where applicable). Single
Entry is suited to a small number of records, and Bulk Entry to large volumes.

Q5. Why is Single Entry unavailable under Procurement?

Procurement Single Entry is not available to Importer users. Importers record

procurement through the other supported methods rather than single manual entry.

Procurement
1. Procurement from a Registered Entity (Linking)
Q1. If the supplier is registered on the portal, must the purchase still be entered
manually?
No. When a registered supplier records a sale to the buyer, the portal automatically creates
the corresponding procurement entry on the buyer's side and populates the invoice details.
The entry appears under Procurement from Registered Entity.

Q2. How are purchases from a registered supplier that occurred before registration
added?

Click Single Entry, set the Registration Type to Registered, and select the Entity
Type purchased from (Producer / Importer). The system lists all sales recorded against the
buyer's GST details; click Link on the applicable entries. The list can be narrowed by EPR
Invoice Number.

Q3. How can an incorrectly linked purchase be reversed?

Navigate to Single Entry, set the Registration Type to Registered, locate the entry
(searching by EPR Invoice Number if required), and click Unlink. The entry is removed from
the dashboard immediately. Unlinking does not delete the seller's original sale; it only
removes the link to the buyer's procurement.

Q4. Why can a past sale no longer be linked or unlinked?

Linking and unlinking are permitted only while the Annual Return (AR) for that financial year
has not been submitted by either the buyer or the supplier, and the AR window is open.
Once either party submits the AR or the window closes, those past sales are locked.

2. Procurement Single Entry (Unregistered Supplier)

Q1. What is the first step to add a single procurement entry?

Uploading the invoice document. If the invoice is a GST invoice with a QR code, the system
reads it and auto-populates fields such as Seller/Buyer GSTIN, IRN, HSN, invoice value, and
date. If no readable QR code is present, all fields must be entered manually.

Q2. Which invoice file types are supported?

PDF, JPG, or PNG (max file size for single entry shall not cross 1 MB and for bulk upload the
size shall not cross 80 MB).

Q3. Can an entry be added when the invoice has no QR code?

Yes. The system does not auto-populate any fields, so all mandatory fields must be entered
manually.

Q4. What is required when the supplier does not have a GST number?
Set Is Supplier GST Available? to No. The Supplier Mobile Number then becomes
mandatory. For unregistered suppliers, the Recycled Plastic % must be 0.

Q5. When is Container Capacity required?

Only when the applicant is a Brand Owner and the Plastic Category is Cat-I. In all other
cases it is not applicable and should be left blank.

Q6. Can a future date be used as the procurement/invoice date?

No. The procurement/invoice date cannot be in the future.

Q7. What causes a "duplicate record" error?

An identical record already exists, with the same plastic type, invoice number, quantity,
category, and procurement date. In addition, the same invoice number can be used a
maximum of 4 times; the fifth attempt is rejected.

Q8. What happens after clicking Preview?

The system displays a summary of all entered data for review. After the details are verified,
clicking Confirm & Submit validates the data, checks for duplicates, and saves the entry to
the Procurement Dashboard.

3. Procurement Bulk Entry

Q1. How is a bulk procurement upload started?

Open Procurement Details, click Bulk Upload, and click Download Template. Complete
the Excel file, prepare a ZIP of invoices, upload both, correct any errors, confirm the Excel,
and finalize through Invoice Validation.

Q2. Where is the Excel template obtained, and can an older one be reused?

Always click Download Template on the Bulk Upload screen to obtain the latest template
for the applicant type. Older templates must not be reused, and the column headers and
sheet structure must not be modified.

Q3. In what format should dates be entered in the bulk template?

Use the YYYY-MM-DD format (for example, 2025-06-15). Blank rows must not be left
between data rows.

Q4. How are invoice files matched to the Excel rows?

Each row contains an Invoice Document Name. The corresponding file in the ZIP must have
the exact same name (including the extension), for example, [Link]. Name
matching is case-insensitive but must otherwise be exact.

Q5. How is the invoice ZIP file prepared?

Place all invoice files (PDF/JPG/PNG) in a single folder (no sub-folders), name each file to
match the Invoice Document Name in the Excel file, and compress the folder into a ZIP.

Q6. Is there a limit on the date range or size of a single bulk upload?

The From Date to To Date range can cover only 1 month (31 days) at a time. For optimal
performance, each session should be kept to a reasonable size (approximately 1,000
entries).

Q7. How are highlighted (error) cells in the preview resolved?

Click the error icon to view the issue, correct the value directly in the preview, and
click Validate. This is repeated until all errors are cleared, after which the Confirm &
Submit button appears.

Q8. If an invoice is missing or its name does not match, must the entire ZIP be re-
uploaded?

No. Only the flagged items need to be addressed. Use Upload Missing Invoices to add the
missing file(s), up to 200 files at once, or correct the Invoice Document Name in the Excel
file to match the file in the ZIP, then click Validate.

Q9. Does clicking Confirm & Submit on the Excel complete the upload?

No. Confirming the Excel only confirms that the data is correct. The system then
performs QR invoice verification in the background. To complete the process, navigate
to Invoice Validation and click Submit; only then do the records appear on the dashboard.

Q10. How is an in-progress bulk upload discarded?

Click Cancel on the bulk upload screen and confirm. The system removes all temporary
session data, and no records are saved to the database.

Q11. Can the validated data be downloaded before submission?

Yes. Once validation shows zero errors, click Download Validated Excel to obtain the final,
normalized data for record-keeping.
 4. Invoice Validation & QR Reading (Bulk)
Q1. What does the Invoice Validation page display?

A list of bulk sessions showing a Data Retrieved count (invoices from which QR data was
read), a Data Not Retrieved count (invoices where QR data could not be read), the upload
date, and the status. Click the eye icon to open a session.

Q2. What actions are available within a session's validation view?

The QR-extracted data is mapped against each Excel row, with a field-by-field
comparison (Excel value versus QR value). A value can be edited or a corrected invoice re-
uploaded, after which clicking Submit finalizes the session.

Q3. What happens when the invoice date and the procurement date differ?

The system gives precedence to the QR data. If the QR invoice date differs from the
procurement date, the procurement date is overwritten with the invoice date from the QR.

Q4. Will the fields remain blank for an invoice without a QR code?

Yes. For invoices without a readable QR code, the extracted data fields remain empty, and
the system relies on the values entered in the Excel file.

5. Procurement Dashboard
Q1. How is the Procurement Dashboard filtered?

Use Interval Type (day / month / year), From Date / To Date (DD-MM-YYYY), Registration
Type (Registered / Unregistered), and Category (I–IV or all). The graph and summary update
accordingly.

Q2. How are the detailed records behind a summary value opened?

Click the highlighted/underlined summary value. The detailed table opens below, showing
the supplier name, invoice number, quantity, date, category, invoice file, and a delete action.
Search and pagination are available for large lists.

Q3. How is procurement data exported?

Click Download Excel. The summary details are exported with all procurement fields as
columns, suitable for record-keeping, reporting, or verification.

Q4. How is a procurement record deleted?

Locate the record in the table, click the Delete icon, and confirm the deletion.

Q5. Why does the system prevent a record from being deleted?

Deletion depends on the Annual Return status. If the AR for that financial year has already
been submitted, its procurement records cannot be deleted.

Q6. Which filter should be used to verify historical (legacy) data?

Use only the Financial Year filter to verify historical data. Other filters may not display it
correctly, because the legacy portal listed records by date of entry, whereas CEPR uses
the date of procurement or date of sale (see Section 5.1).

Road Construction (End-of-Life)

Q1. What are the two parts of a road-construction EoL activity?

First, the procurement of plastic waste (Single Entry only, Category I / II / III). Second,
a Self-Declaration of the road constructed using that waste, submitted through the Submit
Self-Declaration form.

Q2. Can road-construction entries be uploaded in bulk?

No. Bulk Entry is not available for Road Construction; Single Entry must be used.

Q3. What is the maximum proportion of bitumen that plastic can replace?

The bitumen replacement percentage cannot exceed 8%.

Q4. Is there a cap on the quantity of plastic that can be declared?

Yes. The declared quantity cannot exceed the maximum allowed based on the road
dimensions and bitumen usage, and it cannot exceed the quantity procured for each
category. If nothing was procured in a category, the declared quantity for that category must
be 0. The maximum allowed plastic is derived from the road dimensions, the bitumen
quantity, and the bitumen percentage replaced by plastic (see Section 6).

Q5. Which documents must be attached for a self-declaration?

A Picture document and a Certificate document, which must be two different files. A video
link is optional.

Q6. Why can a procurement already used in a self-declaration not be deleted?

Because the declaration has consumed that procured quantity. Deleting it would leave the
category short, so the system blocks the deletion.

Sales
1. Sales Single Entry
Q1. How is a single sale recorded?

Click Single Entry on the Sales Dashboard, enter the buyer and sale details, upload the
sales invoice, complete the mandatory fields, click Generate EPR Invoice Number, review
the preview, and click Submit.

Q2. What additional detail is helpful when the buyer is registered?

Select the registered entity by company name and, where available, provide the
buyer's Application Number (found on the National Dashboard). Otherwise, the entity
name, address, state, and mobile number are captured directly.

Q3. Does the sales invoice QR code also auto-populate fields?

Yes. For a GST invoice with a QR code, the system extracts the Seller GSTIN, Buyer GSTIN,
IRN, HSN, Document Number, and Invoice Value from the verified invoice.

Q4. When is the Buyer GSTIN mandatory?

For non-export sales, the Buyer GSTIN is required. For export sales, it is optional.

Q5. What additional detail is required for an export sale?

Set Is Export to Yes and select a Country.

Q6. When is Container Capacity required on a sale?

Only for a Brand Owner selling Cat-I. It is not applicable to other combinations.

Q7. How many times can the same E-Invoice Number or IRN be reused?

A maximum of 4 times, counted across Producer and Importer sales combined. The fifth
use is flagged as a duplicate.

Q8. What is the purpose of "Generate EPR Invoice Number"?

It creates a unique EPR Invoice Number for the sale and displays a preview. After the details
are reviewed, clicking Submit saves the sale.
 2. Sales Bulk Entry
Q1. How are sales uploaded in bulk?

Click Bulk Upload on the Sales Dashboard, download the Sales template, complete it, map
each row to its invoice file name, compress the invoices into a ZIP, upload both, click Upload
& Preview, correct any errors, click Validate, and complete Invoice Validation.
The Application ID is required for the sales bulk preview.

Q2. Will multiple rows that reference the same invoice file create duplicate sales?

No. When multiple rows share the same invoice file name, the system treats them as
a single sale, since one invoice can map to multiple inventory rows. This is expected
behavior, not an error.

Q3. Is there a date limit for a sales bulk upload?

Yes. The date range must remain within the permitted window, typically a maximum of one
month.

Q4. What must be provided in the Excel file when selling to a registered entity?

The registered entity's Application Number (available on the National Dashboard).

Q5. What is the procedure when the invoice value does not match the Excel value during
Invoice Validation?

The system highlights the cell. Upload the correct invoice in the invoice filename column and
click Validate again until the values match.

3. Potential Generated & Wallet

Q1. How is the potential from a Producer sale calculated?

The potential is the total plastic quantity sold multiplied by the recycled percentage, divided
by 100.

Q2. Where is the generated potential credited?

It is automatically transferred to the entity's wallet, where it is available for certificate

generation and transfer. Each sale is recorded against the EPR certificate type for its category.

Q3. Do Importer sales also generate recycled-content potential?

No. Importer sales record the plastic quantity and invoice details but do not compute a
recycled-content potential in the way Producer sales do.

4. Sales Dashboard
Q1. How is the Sales Dashboard filtered?

Filter by year / month / day and by date range (From and To). The dashboard presents sales
summaries separately for registered and unregistered buyers.

Q2. How are sales records viewed and exported?

Click a summary value to open the detailed table, where each invoice can be viewed and an
entry deleted. Records can be exported to Excel (per category).

Q3. Why does the system prevent a sales entry from being deleted?

Deletion depends on the Annual Return status: it is blocked once the AR for the sale's
financial year has been submitted or the window has closed. It is also blocked if the deletion
would reduce any approved wallet balance below zero.

Verifying Historical (Legacy) Data

Q1. How is migrated legacy data compared with CEPR?

Navigate to Operations → Material Procurement Details, select Financial Year, choose the
required financial year, click Fetch, and review the totals. Repeat under Operations →
Sales using the Financial Year filter (see Section 5.1).

Q2. Why do the figures differ from the legacy portal for the same period?

The legacy portal listed records by date of entry, whereas CEPR uses the date of
procurement or date of sale. For this reason, historical data should be verified using only
the Financial Year filter rather than the date-based filters.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Q1. Why can a new procurement or sales entry not be added for a past year?

Most likely the Annual Return for that financial year has been submitted or the AR
window is closed, which locks new entries for that year.
Q2. Why does an error persist in the bulk preview after correction?

The corrected value is still invalid. Review the error message, enter a value that matches the
template's permitted options/format, and click Validate again.

Q3. Does a bulk upload remain incomplete after Confirm & Submit?

Confirming the Excel is not the final step. The system verifies invoices via QR in the
background; navigate to Invoice Validation and click Submit to complete the upload.

Q4. What should be checked when the QR code does not read an invoice?

Ensure the file is a GST invoice with a valid, readable QR code in an accepted format
(PDF/JPG/PNG). Blurry, cropped, or non-GST invoices do not auto-populate; the details can
be entered manually, or a clearer file can be re-uploaded.

Q5. Why is the Recycled % rejected for an unregistered supplier?

For unregistered suppliers, the Recycled Plastic % must be 0. Any other value is rejected.

Q6. What does the message "Seller and Buyer GSTIN cannot be the same" mean?

The same GSTIN cannot appear on both sides of an invoice. Confirm that the supplier's
GSTIN is entered in the seller field and the buyer's GSTIN in the buyer field.