Testing framework requirement: MIIs must implement comprehensive IT system testing, validation, and governance before production deployment.
MIIs must establish a comprehensive testing framework requiring extensive pre deployment testing, validation and documentation; testing in a production like environment; automated testing and traceability matrices; policies for third party integrations; validation of core code and APIs; regression and white box testing; non functional tests including performance, stress and BCP testing; prompt tracking and remediation of defects with escalation of major issues to SCOT; documentation of all test results including UAT for audit review.

Transition bond disclosure: issuers must use GB-T denotation and disclose transition plan, progress and revisions.
Issuers of transition bonds must label instruments with the denotation GB-T and include a Transition Plan detailing interim targets with indicative emissions reductions, project implementation strategy, technology use, and an oversight mechanism for utilisation of proceeds. GB-T must be recorded in the Centralised Database and prefixed in instrument details by depositories. Issuers must disclose any revisions to the Transition Plan to stock exchanges and report implementation progress in the annual report; stock exchanges will monitor these disclosures. The requirements are effective immediately.

Wire transfer due diligence: strengthened originator and beneficiary information requirements and risk-based processing obligations for regulated entities.
The amendment requires cross-border wire transfers to carry accurate originator and beneficiary information-originator name, account or unique transaction reference, originator address or national identity/customer identification details, and beneficiary name and account-permits limited originator data for individual transfers within batch files provided the batch contains full traceable information, applies equivalent information rules to qualifying domestic transfers, mandates prompt availability of transfer information to law enforcement and FIU-IND on lawful request, and imposes defined ordering, intermediary and beneficiary regulated entity responsibilities including risk-based policies and suspicious transaction reporting.

Customs tariff changes: updated CTHs now required on all import and export declarations, triggering reassessment and amendments.
Changes to the Customs Tariff require filing customs declarations with the new CTHs; the customs IT system and amending notifications have been updated, Advance/Prior Bills pending regularization must be recalled and reassessed if affected, and shipping bills should be amended where export benefits are impacted.

Appointment of Adjudicating Authority: Pr. Commissioner/Commissioner tasked with adjudicating a service tax SCN and reporting to Commissioner.
The Board appoints the Pr. Commissioner/Commissioner, CGST & CX, Varanasi as the Central Excise Officer to exercise Chapter V powers of the Finance Act, 1994 for adjudication of the Show Cause Notice issued to M/s A.K. Construction Co., specifying the SCN reference and date, and making that officer answerable to the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner, CGST & CX, Agartala to ensure administrative oversight of the adjudicatory process.

Appointment of Adjudicating Authority: Pr. Commissioner CGST & CX Patna-I empowered to adjudicate specified show-cause notices.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs appoints the Pr. Commissioner/Commissioner, CGST & CX, Patna-I as the Central Excise Officer empowered to exercise Chapter V powers of the Finance Act, 1994 for adjudication of specified show-cause notices issued to Shri Lalit Mohan Sharma (Hi-Tech Equipment Services), with the listed SCNs made answerable to the Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner, CGST & CX, Aizawl and to the Pr. Commissioner/Commissioner, CGST & CX, Patna-I respectively.

Adjudication appointment under Service Tax Rules assigns Central Excise Officer to adjudicate show cause notices for Subhash Earthmovers.
The order appoints the Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner, CGST & CX, Aizawl as the Central Excise Officer under rule 3 of the Service Tax Rules, 1994 read with clause (e) of sub section (2) of section 174 of the CGST Act, 2017 to adjudicate specified show cause notices issued to Shri Subhash Sharma (M/s Subash Earthmovers) and makes each notice answerable to the Additional Commissioner/Joint Commissioner named in the order's table.

Fake GST registrations: nationwide drive mandates data led identification, verification, suspension and blocking of fraudulent input tax credit.
A Special All India Drive (16 May-15 July 2023) directs GSTN to identify suspicious GSTINs through data analytics and share them with Central and State tax administrations; each jurisdiction must appoint a nodal officer to coordinate. Jurisdictional officers shall undertake time bound verification, suspend or cancel non existent registrations under section 29, block ITC under Rule 86A, identify recipients of fraudulent ITC and initiate demand/recovery or share details with other jurisdictions using Annexure B, and pursue recovery/attachment measures under section 83. Weekly reports (Annexure A) and GSTIN wise feedback (Annexure C) are required; a National Coordination Committee will monitor the drive.

U.S. TIN reporting codes permit FFIs to flag missing taxpayer IDs with specified codes, subject to compliance review.
Model 1 reporting Financial Institutions must report U.S. TINs for U.S. reportable accounts; where a TIN is unavailable, RFIs may populate the TIN field with specified IRS codes that correspond to defined account scenarios (preexisting/new accounts with U.S. place of birth or other U.S. indicia, dormant accounts, passive NFFE accounts without self certifications, and a residual code). The IRS updated these codes via Notice 2023-11, treats 2022 as a transition year with optional code sets, requires updated codes thereafter, and will issue error notifications with a cure period while assessing potential significant non compliance based on facts and procedures.

Reference Number for GST communications must be generated for offline notices and verifiable on the portal.
A facility has been introduced for electronic generation of a Reference Number (RFN) for GST communications that are not system-generated, with verification available on the GST Common Portal. System-generated documents already carrying a unique identifier such as DIN or ARN do not require a fresh RFN, but all other communications relating to GST administration must be issued with the RFN mentioned on the document and superscribed on offline communications.

Document Reference Number verification ensures search and inspection communications are authentic and provides taxpayer verification and complaint channels.
Officers must electronically generate and quote a Document Reference Number (RFN) on search and inspection communications and documents so recipients can verify authenticity via the GST portal's Verify RFN service; taxpayers encountering documents without a valid RFN may report the matter to the Department by the specified email or telephone, and the circular is procedural guidance only.

Legal Entity Identifier requirement for issuers mandates LEI reporting and ISIN mapping at issuance and for existing listings.
Introduction of Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) requirement mandates that issuers of listed non-convertible securities, securitised debt instruments and security receipts obtain and report LEI: outstanding issuers must report to the Centralized Database or Depositories by the compliance deadline, while issuers of new issues must report LEI at the time of ISIN allotment. Depositories must map LEI to existing ISINs within the prescribed window and link LEI to ISINs at activation for future issuances.

Electronic certificate of origin enables preferential tariff claims when issued in prescribed format and properly verified.
Electronic Certificates of Origin issued by the Sri Lankan Issuing Authority are acceptable for preferential tariff claims under the India-Sri Lanka FTA if issued in the prescribed format with authorized seals and signatures and meeting Notification No. 19/2000-Customs requirements. Verification will use specimen seals/signatures and the unique QR code; doubtful cases are to be referred to the FTA Cell. Importers must upload the e-CoO to e-Sanchit and accurately enter certificate particulars; a printed e-CoO may be used for defacement checks and the EDI system prevents reuse of CoO reference numbers.

Customs Tariff changes require filings with updated classification; pending entries must be recalled and reassessed.
Customs Tariff changes from the Finance Act 2023 are effective 01.05.2023; systems now accept only updated Commodity Tariff Headings (CTHs) and amended notifications. All Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills, including Ex-bond and advance entries pending regularization, must be filed or recalled and reassessed where affected by the new CTHs; Shipping Bills granting export benefits must be amended if those benefits are impacted. Stakeholders should manually verify CTHs, notification applicability, and Partner Government Agency clearances before filing.

Declaration of Customs Area designates Warehouse II for LCL import cargo handling under Customs Act, effective May 2023.
Declaration designates Warehouse No. II at M/s. Sattva CFS & Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Vichoor Village, Chennai as a Customs Area for handling LCL import cargo under the powers of Section 8(b) of the Customs Act, 1962, partially modifying the earlier public notice and directing that LCL procedures follow the referenced public notice; Google location and GPS coordinates are enclosed and an effective date is specified.

Customs area amendment redefines Dawki land customs station limits, specifying ICP boundary and adjoining road stretches.
Exercise of powers under Section 8(b) of the Customs Act modifies the Customs Area limits for Dawki Land Customs Station to include specified stretches of NH-40 and the Dawki-Muktapur road, and to delineate the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Dawki (approximately 21.90 acres) with boundaries along the Dawki-Muktapur Road, the international border-facing side, and the ICP's east and west boundary walls. The earlier facility notification dated 01.12.2010 is modified accordingly.

Electronic Cash Ledger payments: restrict PAN-based payments to baggage declarations and merge held PAN wallets after registration.
Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) PAN-based payments made for Bills of Entry have resulted in non-activated PAN wallets with balances on hold because payers were not registered on ICEGATE. ICEGATE has been changed to allow PAN payments only for Baggage Declarations. Field formations must identify PAN payers for affected Bills of Entry, have those payers register on ICEGATE under CHA/IEC as appropriate, obtain confirmations/undertakings to merge held PAN-based wallets with registered ICEGATE IDs, and email scanned undertakings to ICEGATE for the merging exercise.

Customs tariff classification changes require import/export declarations to use updated CTHs and may need reassessment or amendment.
Finance Act, 2023 revised the Customs Tariff effective 01.05.2023 and the Customs system has been updated accordingly. All Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills must be filed with the post-amendment CTHs; advance or pending BEs filed before the effective date must be recalled and reassessed where CTHs or notifications are affected, and shipping bills tied to export benefits may need amendment. Stakeholders should verify notification applicability and Obtain necessary NOC/clearance from Partner Government Agencies before filing and report any difficulties to the designated contact.

GST rate on Rab clarified: pre-packaged labelled supplies taxed while other forms are exempt, past treatment regularised.
Effective 1 March 2023, Rab sold in pre-packaged and labelled form attracts GST at the notified rate for pre-packaged goods, while Rab sold otherwise is nil-rated; divergent past interpretations are regularised on an "as is" basis following the GST Council recommendation and the Ministry of Finance circular.

Port charge liability for delayed DPD CFS containers shifted to CFSs; terminals must ensure evacuation and not insist on PD accounts.
CFS operators are directed to bear port charges for containers kept beyond the free period at terminals, and must move DPD CFS containers from port terminals to CFSs within the prescribed free time; port terminals are instructed not to insist on opening PD accounts. A fortnightly Task Force including CFSs, terminals, shipping lines, BCBA and Customs will address delays and may consider waiver of ground rent for delays beyond stakeholders' control, with implementation issues to be reported to the CCSP Cell.