PAN inoperative consequences: linking Aadhaar within prescribed window removes higher-rate TDS/TCS liability for prior transactions.
The Board clarifies that where a PAN becomes operative following Aadhaar linkage within the prescribed remedial interval for transactions entered into up to the cutoff, deductors and collectors are not liable to apply higher withholding or collection rates; normal deduction and collection provisions of Chapter XVII-B and Chapter XVII-BB shall apply, thereby addressing demands raised for short-deduction or short-collection in such cases.

Exemption from BIS standard for Ortho phosphoric Acid temporarily permits its use as fertilizer raw material without BIS compliance.
The Ortho Phosphoric Acid Order requires conformity to the relevant Indian Standard and BIS licensing with the Bureau as certifying and enforcement authority and penalties for contravention. An amendment inserted a proviso exempting Ortho Phosphoric Acid when used as raw material in fertilizer production from the BIS standard for a temporary period from publication of that notification, and customs authorities have been instructed to sensitize officers and monitor compliance.

Document Management System compliance requires digitalisation of cleared Shipping Bills, payment of charges, and action against habitual docket defaulters.
Customs Brokers and exporters must submit Shipping Bills granted Let Export Order for digitalisation and pay applicable Document Management System charges for scanned Shipping Bills. EDI copies of DMS coupons must accompany Bill of Entry and Shipping Bill document sets submitted after Let Export Order or Out of Charge. Unsubmitted or unscanned dockets are subject to SIIB referral for investigation and recovery, while habitual defaulters may face appropriate action, including alerts for officers granting Let Export Order.

Jurisdictional allocation of large registered traders standardized; corporate circle assignments and amendment timing mandated for uniform compliance.
Zonal Additional Commissioners must identify the one hundred largest registered traders by taxable turnover and tax payable after the financial year end, and forward a considered proposal assigning sixty such traders to the zone's Joint Commissioner (Corporate Circle) within fifteen days of the final GSTR-3B filing deadline; late proposals will not be accepted. The selection must include manufacturers, traders, exporters, sensitive goods dealers and tax-significant service providers, and service-supplier representation must meet prescribed allocation standards. Amendment proposals are to be submitted only at the start of the next financial year; mid-year changes will not be entertained.

Safeguard measures discontinued on Isopropyl alcohol imports; IPA now free under import policy without quantitative restrictions.
Country wise safeguard Quantitative Restrictions on imports of Isopropyl Alcohol instituted by Notification No. 64/2015-20 (effective 01.04.2023-31.03.2024) have been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2024, and imports of Isopropyl Alcohol are now Free and not subject to any policy condition.

Private Placement Memorandum audit standardization requires standardized reporting and online submission via SEBI portal.
AIFs must carry out an annual Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) Audit Report and submit it to trustees/boards, managers and SEBI within the Master Circular timelines. SEBI mandates a standardized reporting format, to be hosted by AIF associations, and requires online submission via the SEBI Intermediary Portal. Audit of specified PPM sections-Risk Factors; Legal, Regulatory and Tax Considerations; Track Record of First Time Managers; Illustration of Fees and Expenses; and Glossary and Terms-is optional. The format will be reviewed periodically by the pilot SFA in consultation with SEBI and revisions published by associations.

Liquidators' fee clarification: certain circular provisions withdrawn; insolvency professionals must comply with remaining guidance and report.
Paragraphs 2.1 and 2.5 of the IBBI circular dated 28 September 2023 are withdrawn after being struck down by court order; the remaining parts of the circular remain valid. Insolvency professionals who have not complied with the original circular are given an opportunity to comply with the remaining operative provisions and must inform IBBI of their compliance status electronically on the IBBI website by the prescribed deadline. The circular is issued under the authority of section 196 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Return scrutiny requires discrepancy-based ASMT-10 notices, relevant information requests, reasoned consideration of taxpayer replies, and avoidance of duplicate notices.
Return scrutiny must be based on identified discrepancies found through examination of returns, available reports and reconciliation-statement data. FORM GST ASMT-10 may be issued only where sufficient grounds and revenue implications exist, with requests limited to relevant information. Taxpayer explanations in FORM GST ASMT-11 must be considered before an order is issued; rejection requires a reasoned speaking order, and ex parte orders should generally be avoided. Duplicate notices for the same issue and tax period require review, with legally unsustainable notices closed.

Recovery certificate modification: issuance of DRC-07A under Section 142A(1) mandates adjustment or withdrawal of earlier recovery certificates.
Recovery of arrears under erstwhile laws for taxpayers active in the GST period must be recovered under the CGST/UPGST Act by issuing Form DRC-07A under Section 142A(1), and the corresponding recovery certificate under the earlier law must be modified or withdrawn. Departmental recoveries require portal entry under R.C. marking with R.C. removal and DRC-07A details, reducing the erstwhile certificate amount; district-administered recoveries will not be withdrawn but will be reflected by departmental R.C. modification where ledger recoveries occurred and the modified RC supplied to the district. Form ST-45 is issued only after full recovery.

Hedging of gold price risk permitted via OTC derivatives in IFSCs, subject to Master Direction stipulations and immediate effect.
Resident entities may hedge gold price risk in IFSCs using OTC derivatives as well as exchange-traded derivatives, subject to the stipulations of the Master Direction on hedging of commodity price and freight risk (as amended). The Master Direction has been updated and these instructions are effective immediately, issued under the prevailing foreign exchange regulatory framework while remaining without prejudice to any other statutory permissions or approvals.

Advance Authorisation discharge options clarified: export obligation may be met by physical exports or specified domestic supplies.
Holders of Advance Authorisation issued on or after 01.04.2015 may discharge export obligation by physical exports or domestic supplies under para 7.02(A)(a). For authorisations issued on or after 10.01.2019, options also include supplies to EOUs/STP/EHTP/BTP under para 7.02(A)(b) and supply of capital goods against EPCG under para 7.02(A)(c), provided exemption from applicable anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard or transition product specific safeguard duties has not been availed. Deemed export authorisations have the same options and conditions.

Gender-specific workplace infrastructure mandated for customs cargo facilities to ensure safe, inclusive environments and POSH compliance.
Custodians of CCSP-operated CFS/AFS/ICD under HCCAR 2009 must provide gender responsive infrastructure (lighting, panic buttons), care services including creches in line with maternity provisions, establish Internal Complaints Committees for workplace sexual harassment, hold regular gender-sensitization training, and regularly upgrade and publicize gender-specific facilities to ensure availability, upkeep, and an inclusive workplace ecosystem for women in trade.

Demarcation of non-processing area requires full repayment of originally availed tax benefits before permission and subjects units to DTA laws.
Rule 11B permits BOA to demarcate existing built-up floor space in IT/ITES SEZs as Non-Processing Area only after full repayment, without interest, of the originally availed tax benefits attributable to that space (including construction and basement costs and benefits on common facilities). Chartered Engineer certification must identify the built-up area; repayment calculations rely on financial books and originally availed benefits. Units in NPA are limited to IT/ITES activities, treated as DTA entities with no SEZ privileges, access control is required, and O&M tax benefits for common infrastructure used by NPA units are not available.

Import monitoring registration: ARN and FSSAI licence required for melon seeds to secure customs clearance.
Importers must apply online to the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System, submit advance shipment information and the registration charge to obtain an Automatic Registration Number; registration is required within ten days of the Bill of Lading and one ARN is limited to one country of origin and one port while covering multiple consignments and Bills of Lading with mandatory upload of Bill of Lading copies. At import clearance the ARN and a valid FSSAI Manufacturer Licence for melon seeds must be presented to Customs.

Modification of SION input-output norms revised import entitlements for export of refined sunflower oil edible grade.
Modification of SION E-124 revises input entitlements for export of Refined Sunflower Oil (Edible Grade). For one MT of exported refined oil the amended import items and quantities include Crude Sunflower Oil (Edible Grade) (FFA 0.5-1.8%) at 1.033 MT, Caustic Lye (48%) 2.500 kg, Phosphoric acid 0.165 kg, Citric acid 0.020 kg, TONSIL Bleaching earth 2.000 kg and Filter Aid corrected to 3.600 kg. The change is made under Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and affects export entitlement calculations.

CFS name change requires successor custodian to assume prior, pending and future liabilities, effective from the notified date.
The CFS formerly named M/s. Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Seva) Private Limited is renamed M/s. DP World Multimodal Logistics Private Limited effective 08-04-2024; all prior public notice declarations regarding designation as a Customs Area and appointment as Custodian remain unchanged, and the successor must assume and honour all existing, pending and future liabilities and statutory obligations arising from the earlier name.

Voluntary compliance under KSGST prevents notices if tax, interest and prescribed penalty are paid and declared correctly.
Voluntary compliance allows a taxable person to pay additional tax with interest, and where applicable a reduced penalty, before any notice is issued; upon written intimation and receipt via FORM GST DRC-03 the proper officer shall not issue a notice for amounts so paid, but may issue a notice limited to any shortfall if the payment is deficient. Detailed breakup of tax, interest, penalty, Input Tax Credit errors or erroneous refunds and identification of tax periods must accompany the payment to enable verification.

Order numbering: prescribed unique identifiers for appellate and revisional GST orders to ensure uniform identification and tracking.
Appellate and Revisional authorities must assign a distinct order number to each order annexed with Form GST APL-04 using prescribed formats so that the number conveys office/designation, year and a unique serial, and must maintain registers for appellate and revisional order numbers to ensure uniform identification and facilitate litigation tracking.

Aadhaar e-KYC Authentication: authorised entities may be onboarded as sub-KUAs to provide investor KYC authentication services.
Specified entities are authorised to use Aadhaar e-KYC authentication services as sub-KUAs for resident investor KYC in the securities market. These entities must be onboarded as sub-KUAs through KUAs, follow the onboarding and operational processes prescribed in the KYC master circular and by the authentication provider, and comply with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act framework and related notifications. Registered intermediaries and exchanges must recognise and facilitate integration of these sub-KUAs and ensure adherence to the prescribed procedures.

Customs Area expansion permits additional premises for handling import LCL cargo and bonded warehouse operations.
Declaration expanding the Customs Area of M/s. Ennore Cargo Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd. by 16.141 acres under Section 8(b) of the Customs Act, 1962, incorporating an LCL import warehouse and a bonded warehouse (License No. C041), with specified survey numbers and boundary descriptions; total CFS area becomes approximately 29.971 acres. The Public Notice is effective from 05.04.2024.