What is a Consolidated E-Way Bill (EWB-02)?
A Consolidated E-Way Bill (FORM GST EWB-02) is a document that consolidates multiple e-way bills (EWB-01s). It covers different consignments transported together in the same conveyance. The CEWB lists individual EWB numbers and the vehicle/transporter details and is primarily transporters and GTAs usage to simplify physical paperwork.
Categories of E-Way Bill
Individual E-way Bill
Aside from the list of exceptions to the e-way bill requirement, you need to create an individual e-way bill for each consignment whose value is above INR 50,000.
Consolidated E-Way Bill
Consolidated E-Way Bill (EWB-02) is a single document that comprises the details of all individual e-way bills connected to the multiple consignments transported by a single mode of transportation.
When & why is Consolidated E-Way Bill (EWB-02) used?
In cases where the carrier is conveying multiple parties’ consignments: After the parties (whose goods are being transported in a single vehicle) have generated various e-way bills, the transporter has the option to issue a single consolidated e-way bill for convenience. Before the movement of goods, a consolidated E-way bill is generated. The GST common site has a form GST EWB-02 that may be used to create the same.
Details required to generate a Consolidated E-Way Bill
To generate CEWB on the e-way portal you will need:
- List of individual E-Way Bill numbers (EWB-01) for all consignments to be consolidated.
- Mode of transport (Road / Rail / Air / Ship).
- Vehicle number / Transporter ID (for road transport) or transporter document number & date (rail/air/ship).
- From (place / state) and Vehicle start place.
- Any remarks/reasons (if applicable) when regenerating or updating vehicle details.
Note: the portal auto-populates many fields (consignor/consignee, invoice details) based on the included EWB-01 numbers.
How to generate a Consolidated E-Way Bill (step-by-step)
- Log in to the e-way bill portal (ewaybillgst.gov.in).
Transporters using e way bill generation software integrated with the GST portal can streamline EWB-01 creation and quickly consolidate them into EWB-02 with fewer manual errors. - Navigate to Consolidated EWB → Generate new.
- Choose transport Mode, enter Vehicle Starts From, Vehicle No. and add EWB numbers of individual consignments.
- Submit — the portal creates the EWB-02 (12-digit CEWB number). Print/export as needed.
Transporters who use e way bill generation software integrated with the GST portal can generate individual EWB-01s and consolidated EWB-02 faster, reduce manual errors, and maintain a clear audit trail for compliance.
Regenerate Consolidated E-Way Bill — When & How
When: If the vehicle details change after CEWB creation (e.g., vehicle breakdown, transshipment, change of transporter), the transporter can re-generate a new CEWB with updated vehicle information. The old CEWB becomes invalid for further use and the new CEWB must be carried for the journey.
How on portal: Consolidated EWB → Re-generate → select CEWB → update mode/vehicle/from place/reason/remarks → submit. The portal will issue a new CEWB.
Validity of the Consolidated E-Way Bill (EWB-02)
A CEWB does not have an independent or special validity rule — the validity of the consolidated document is governed by the validity of the individual EWBs it contains. In practice, each constituent EWB’s validity is determined by distance and type of cargo, and enforcement uses those individual validities during checks.
Standard validity (practical rule):
- For normal (non-over-dimensional) consignments, the commonly applied rule is 1 day for up to 100 km, and +1 day for every additional 100 km or part thereof. (Different categories such as over-dimensional cargo or multimodal shipments have separate distance/validity rules — check the portal / Rule 138 table).
Tip: Always verify constituent EWB validity prior to consolidation; a consolidated EWB that includes an expired EWB will create compliance risk for the transporter and consignor.
For a detailed explanation of how individual e-way bill validity periods are calculated and how they can be extended, see e-way bill validity period and extension rules.
Cancellation of Consolidated E-Way Bills (and constituent EWBs)
Who can cancel: The generator of the respective e-way bill (supplier/transporter/recipient as applicable) may cancel an e-way bill. CEWB is essentially a container — cancellation of constituent EWB-01s follows the same portal rules.
Time limit: An e-way bill can generally be cancelled within 24 hours of generation on the portal unless it has been verified in transit by an officer (Rule 138B) — in that case cancellation is not permitted. Note that the 24-hour window is an operational rule on the portal and should be observed strictly.
Portal steps (Cancel consolidated E-way Bill):
- Go to Consolidated EWB → Cancel Consolidated EWB.
- Enter CEWB number → Portal loads the CEWB and lists constituent EWBs.
- Confirm cancellation. Once cancelled, the CEWB and related EWB usage will become invalid and cannot be used for movement.
Rejection by recipient / Acceptance mechanics
If a transporter generates an e-way bill that contains recipient details, the recipient can check and accept/reject the consignment on the portal. If no response is given within 72 hours, the portal treats the consignment as accepted. This acceptance/rejection window still applies to consignments included in consolidated EWBs.
Compliance risks & practical tips
- Carry documents: The person in charge must carry the invoice/bill of supply/delivery challan and the e-way bill number (physical or electronic) as per Rule 138A. For e-invoicing taxpayers, IRN QR code may be sufficient for verification.
- Do not use an expired constituent EWB: Even if the CEWB is current, an expired constituent EWB creates violation exposure. Validate each EWB before consolidation.
- Time-sensitive cancels: If you cancel within 24 hours, portal accepts it unless an officer has verified the consignment. After verification, cancellation is blocked.
- Regenerate when needed: Re-generate CEWB promptly when vehicle transshipment or vehicle change occurs; keep a clear trail of reasons/remarks (breakdown, transshipment, driver change).
Read more:- e-way bill software for efficient fleet movement
Practical checklist for transporters (quick)
- Ensure all individual EWB-01 numbers are valid before consolidation.
- Enter correct vehicle number / transporter ID and “vehicle start place”.
- Keep CEWB printout / e-copy in the vehicle.
- If vehicle change/transshipment occurs → use Re-generate CEWB option and record reason.
- If goods not moved / details wrong → cancel within 24 hours (if not verified).
- Keep logs of CEWB number + constituent EWB numbers in transporter records.
Common FAQs
A: No — CEWB is generated by the transporter/GTA after individual EWBs are available. The supplier generates the constituent EWB-01s.
A: CEWB cancellation is an action on the consolidated record. However, cancellations/changes to individual EWBs should follow portal rules. Once CEWB is cancelled, affected EWBs cannot be used for that consolidated movement.
A: The portal UI accepts multiple EWBs; practically limit is driven by portal UI and transport feasibility. Always keep the list accurate.
