Rupee Vostro Account rules impose structured funding, collateral, and KYC/AML controls for inward remittances and permitted payments.
This Master Circular consolidates procedures for opening and maintaining Rupee and foreign currency vostro accounts of non resident Exchange Houses under Rupee Drawing Arrangements and Foreign Currency Drawing Arrangements. It prescribes three operational procedures-DDA, Non DDA and Speed Remittance-specifying funding, auditing/monitoring, lien, float and collateral measures, permissible inward personal remittances and narrowly defined payments, strict KYC/AML/CFT compliance, prohibition of cash disbursements, credit only account operation, and detailed reporting and board review obligations using prescribed annexed formats.

Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee Account rules permit specified rupee credits, limited repatriation and restricted operations subject to tax and documentation.
Consolidated regulatory instructions govern opening, types, joint-holding, permissible credits and debits, repatriation conditions, and operational limits for Non-Resident Ordinary Rupee (NRO) Accounts. Eligible non-residents (NRIs/PIOs) may hold various account forms; credits include inward remittances, India-sourced income and sale proceeds; debits permit local rupee payments and specified remittances abroad subject to tax and documentation. Rules cover visiting foreign nationals, loans/overdrafts against fixed deposits, change of residential status, operations by resident Power of Attorney holders, international card settlement, tax compliance and periodic reporting obligations.

Money transfer regulation: inward personal remittances allowed with authorised agents abiding KYC/AML controls and reporting requirements.
The Master Circular prescribes the regulatory framework for the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS): only inward personal remittances are permitted; Indian Agents must be specified authorised entities meeting minimum net owned funds, documentary and KYC/AML/CFT requirements; Overseas Principals must be licensed, AML compliant and maintain minimum net worth and outreach; collateral is required from Overseas Principals and operational limits and recordkeeping apply; Indian Agents remain fully responsible for Sub Agents and must submit periodic reports and comply with inspections and renewal procedures.

Digitization of SEZ approvals expands online filing for developer and unit permissions, eliminating manual interfaces and requiring compliance reports.
Expansion of the SEZ Online System mandates online submission for additional developer and unit transactions, including land changes, de notification, CST exemption Form I, leasing of processing area space, approval of materials and services, SEZ setup proposals for Board of Approval consideration, issuance of IEC and RCMC, final exit orders, GSP certificates, broad banding, capacity enhancement, diversification or change of activity, and changes in entrepreneur or shareholding. The new processes are to be implemented alongside existing digital processes from the stated effective date, with no manual interface allowed for previously digitized applications and compliance reporting to the Department for review.

Processed metallic scrap import rules: mandatory pre shipment certification and scanning, with importer liability for contaminated consignments.
Import of specified processed metallic scrap is allowed only at ports with Scanner/Radiological Detection Equipment, conditional on submission of a prescribed self-declaration cum legal undertaking and a Pre shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the consignment as processed metallic scrap free of explosive or radioactive material. Mandatory scanning at arrival is required; importer must furnish a bank guarantee and a contract with the exporter accepting return of contaminated consignments. False declarations entail re export obligation, forfeiture of security and further action under foreign trade and customs laws.

Return scrutiny: risk based detailed manual review of ST 3 returns to verify taxability, valuation and CENVAT reconciliation.
Guidelines establish a two-tier scrutiny regime for ST-3 returns from 01.08.2015: automated preliminary validation in ACES and risk based detailed manual scrutiny of selected returns. Detailed scrutiny verifies correctness of self assessment-taxability, valuation under Section 67, exemptions/abatements, export treatment and CENVAT credit admissibility-using assessment documents (agreements, invoices) and reconciliations with income tax returns and Form 26AS, supported by prescribed checklists, observation sheets, reporting templates and confidentiality of risk data.

E-invoicing and e-payment mandated for container freight station charges to streamline customs clearance and trade facilitation.
E-invoicing and e-payment are made mandatory for charges levied by container freight stations under the jurisdiction of Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, directing all CFSs to implement electronic billing and payment for CFS services pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulation, and notifying CFS operators, customs house agents, importers and field formations to comply and report implementation difficulties.

Trade facilitation mobile app offers policy, procedures, code lookup and application status via Android download.
DGFT has released a free Android mobile application to facilitate access to trade information and services, including Foreign Trade Policy, Foreign Trade Procedures, policy statements, Appendices and ANFs, downloadable forms, Minister's speech, ITC(HS) code lookup, MEIS rate lookup, application status tracking and social media updates; the app is available on Google Play Store via the keyword "DGFT" or the provided link, with DGFT contact details for support.

LoP validity correction: departmental memorandum amends previously reported extension and shortens the permitted term for SEZ approvals
The Department of Commerce, SEZ Section, by Office Memorandum dated 26 June 2015, corrects Item No. 65.3(vi) of the Board of Approval minutes of 19 May 2015: the extension of the Letter of Permission previously recorded to 8th November, 2016 is amended to 8th November, 2015. The correction is issued with the approval of the Commerce Secretary.

Augmenting tax collections: conference participants asked to submit multiple suggestions to widen the tax base and boost compliance.
The Board directed conference participants to submit proposals focused on augmenting tax collections and widening the tax base, recalling prior requests including a Ministerial instruction and a Chairperson video conference; several regional offices had already sent suggestions, and the memorandum reiterates that designated senior income-tax officials must forward the required proposals to the Board by the stated deadline for administrative consolidation and consideration.

Offer for Sale retail cut-off bidding option mandated; two-day notice period to be reckoned from banking day.
The OFS framework is amended so that the T-2 notice period is to be reckoned from a banking day rather than a trading day, and sellers must offer retail investors the option to place bids at the cut-off price as well as price bids. Stock exchanges must implement necessary systems immediately, amend bye-laws and rules, and notify member brokers and publish the changes; all other OFS conditions in prior circulars remain unless modified.

Visiting hours for trade meetings enable walk-in consultations with senior DGFT officers on working days for streamlined engagement.
Formalizes an open door policy allowing exporters, members of the trade, IEC holders and non officials to meet officers of the rank of Assistant DGFT and above without prior appointment between 3.00 PM and 5.00 PM on working days from Monday to Thursday, while permitting prior appointments when parties prefer to specify issues in advance to ensure effective consultations.

Overseas borrowing permission: AD Category I banks may tap multilateral institutions without prior case by case RBI approval, subject to conditions.
AD Category I banks may borrow from international or multilateral financial institutions without seeking case by case Reserve Bank approval, where such institutions include bodies with multi government shareholding or Government of India participation. Borrowings must be for general banking business and not for capital augmentation, and are subject to the prudential conditions set out in the applicable A.P. (DIR Series) circular and the statutory framework under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

HRMS staff data submission directs regular employees to file prescribed biodata, enabling departmental personnel record consolidation and online updating.
The Services Department has launched the HRMS module and directs all regular employees to submit the prescribed biodata to the Admn/HR Branch for uploading on the website so departmental personnel records can be completed in the new software. The circular is circulated to senior commissioners, branch in charges and the System Analyst with a request to forward and upload particulars for staff in their branches. The proforma requires personal, recruitment, pay, posting, transfer, deputation, vigilance status and contact details.

SION notification for golf gloves allows specified inputs and import entitlements for export manufacture under textiles product group
Notification of SION J-376 establishes input-output norms and import entitlements for Golf Gloves made of knitted/crocheted/woven/non-woven fabrics under the Textiles Product Group. Specified inputs eligible for import entitlement include relevant fabric or liner/lining material with a specific area allowance, elastic tape, binding tape, velcro, logo material, snap fasteners, lycra with a defined area, and knitted ribbed fabric for cuffs measured relative to export content; several inputs are allowed as net content plus one percent wastage.

Bank guarantee requirement for PSIA recognition: new irrevocable demand guarantee format notified for enforceable compliance.
Unconditional, irrevocable bank guarantee format prescribed for PSIA recognition under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015 20 requires the guarantor to pay on demand for any loss or damage arising from breach of the Handbook of Procedures or any other law, with liability payable without protest, enforceable despite disputes, continuing until the specified claim period expires, and not revocable without prior written consent of the Government.

Clerkage entitlement expanded to include drafting fees, capped per case; immediate amendment to counsel fee rules.
Clerkage is payable at the rate of 10 per cent of the appearance and drafting fee, subject to a maximum per case or batch of cases; this amendment replaces para-5 of Annexure-II of Instruction No. 3 of 2012 and takes immediate effect for all concerned.

Information security committee constitution updated: adds a member and reallocates the chief information security officer role accordingly.
Constitution of the Information Security Committee of the Central Board of Direct Taxes is modified: membership adjusted to add Joint Secretary (FT & TR-II) and to replace CIT (M & TP) with CIT (International Taxation-3), New Delhi, who will perform the role of Chief Information Security Officer; committee remains chaired by Member (IT).

Timely issuance of appellate orders required; non-compliance will be viewed adversely and strict compliance is mandated.
CBDT requires that appellate orders by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) be issued within 15 days of the last hearing and that any lapse will be viewed adversely; this timing requirement also applies to orders by CIT (Administration) and CCIT, including matters under specified income tax provisions and orders under Rule 86 of the Second Schedule, and Principal Chief Commissioners are to ensure strict compliance.

Authorization of Commissioners requires personal signing of counter affidavits and prohibits delegation of representation in High Court matters.
The Board directs that an authorised Commissioner must personally sign the vakalatnama and file the counter affidavit for the Union or Ministry/Board officers in High Court matters; delegation to subordinates is not permitted. For petitions naming multiple Ministries/Departments, the petition must be forwarded to the concerned Ministry/Department to file its counter. If no jurisdictional officer is joined, the nodal Commissioner for the bench must be authorised and must obtain and incorporate comments from concerned officers. Where policy input is needed, the authorised Commissioner will obtain comments from the policy wing, inform the legal section, and then vet and file the counter affidavit.