Body Worn Camera compliance now mandatory for import cargo examination at customs stations under immediate effect.
Mandatory use of Body Worn Cameras has been made effective for physical examination of import cargo at Container Freight Stations, ICDs and ACCs under the Hyderabad Customs Commissionerate. The recording must start before opening of packages or containers and continue through completion of examination, covering inspection of goods, interaction with stakeholders, seals, verification of description and quantity, and sampling where required. Recordings must be securely stored for two years, with longer preservation where investigations, disputes or litigation are pending.

Mutual fund reporting format revised to reflect new scheme categories and updated MCR templates for monthly disclosures.
Revised Monthly Cumulative Report (MCR) reporting format for mutual funds has been prescribed from June 2026 onwards in view of the introduction of new scheme categories and their consolidation in the Master Circular. The circular replaces the existing MCR format with revised templates set out in Annexure A and Annexure B, covering reporting for mutual fund schemes and SIF formats, including scheme-wise and category-wise data points such as folios, mobilised funds, repurchases, net inflows or outflows, assets under management, segregated portfolios and SIP information.

Export cargo fire damage addendum supplements the shipping bill list and seeks prompt discrepancy reporting.
An addendum to Public Notice No. 50/2026 supplements the list of export shipping bills affected by the fire incident at JWR CFS on 18.04.2026. An additional list, as submitted by JWR CFS, is enclosed for information and necessary action. Shipping bills damaged in the fire but not included in the list, or any discrepancy in the particulars, are to be reported promptly for rectification. All other contents of the earlier public notice remain unchanged.

Customs EDI system begins operations at ICD Kadakola with approved custodian, banking, and clearance facilities.
Indian Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5) has been brought into operation for import and export processing at ICD CONCOR, Kadakola, Mysuru, after successful pre-production trials and completion of computerized processing of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills. The customs area at Kadakola has been approved for unloading imported goods and loading export goods, M/s. CONCOR has been appointed as custodian for imported and export cargo, and State Bank of India, ICD Kadakola, Mysuru Branch has been authorised for customs duty, drawback and refund transactions under the EDI system. M/s. CONCOR has been permitted to commence operations at the ICD, and stakeholders may use the specified helpdesk channels for operational clarifications.

GST refund processing by GSTN gets new ADDL role functionality for marking eligible shipping bills.
Additional/Joint Commissioner level functionality has been introduced in ICES for marking Shipping Bills for transmission to GSTN for GST refund processing under Rule 96 of the CGST Rules, 2017. The new option, "GST Refund to be processed by GSTN", enables field officers in the ADDL role to identify shipping bills for transfer to GSTN in cases covered by the specified refund provisions, while cases involving DGARM alerts for risky exporters continue to be transmitted in accordance with the existing mechanism.

SPV classification after concession termination continues under InvIT rules, with exit, acquisition and disclosure obligations.
The conclusion or termination of a concession agreement does not alter the status of an SPV holding an infrastructure project under the InvIT framework, subject to specified conditions. The Investment Manager must, within one year from the later of the relevant agreement's end, resolution of pending claims or assessments, or completion of the defect liability period, either exit the investment by sale, liquidation, winding-up or merger, or acquire a new infrastructure project in the SPV. Until exit, detailed annual report disclosures are required at InvIT and SPV level.

InvIT borrowing rules expand permitted use for capital expenditure, major maintenance, and eligible debt refinancing.
Permitted use of fresh borrowings by an InvIT where net borrowings exceed forty-nine percent of asset value includes capital expenditure for asset performance enhancement or capacity augmentation, major maintenance expense for road projects under concession agreement obligations, and refinancing of eligible debt. In refinancing cases, only the principal portion of debt may be refinanced, while accumulated interest, charges and fees are excluded. The circular applies immediately.

Part delivery of out of charge cargo permitted at container freight stations without separate customs permission.
Part delivery of out of charge cargo at container freight stations is permitted as a trade facilitation measure in the jurisdiction of JNCH. Once a bill of entry has been granted out of charge by the RMS Facilitation Centre, the concerned CFS may allow part delivery without separate permission from the AC/DC, Docks. CFSs must maintain appropriate records of such part deliveries.

Auto-transshipment of SEZ-bound cargo in ICES streamlines clearance by removing manual approval and generating TP electronically.
Auto-transshipment of SEZ-bound cargo from gateway ports and airports has been enabled in ICES to digitize manual processing and reduce dwell time and demurrage. After assessment of the bill of entry, the system automatically generates the transshipment permit and delivers a copy to the registered email address. With the auto-TP feature activated, manual officer approval is no longer required, TP is not needed at the stage of goods registration, and the TP copy appears automatically under supporting documents once the goods are registered.

SEZ and bonded warehouse movement rules streamline Bill of Entry filing, ledger entries, and bond-based customs processing.
Facilitates system-enabled movement of goods between SEZ locations and custom bonded warehouses by prescribing the filing, assessment and ledger-debit/credit mechanism. For SEZ to warehouse movement, the DTA entity or SEZ unit files the Bill of Entry with the relevant importer type, warehouse code and bond details, without IGM details or duty payment. For warehouse to SEZ movement, the SEZ unit files a 'Z' type Bill of Entry, followed by assessment, bond debit, goods registration and out-of-charge after the relevant Ex Bond shipping bill and arrival formalities.

Non-food grade item declaration in Bill of Entry routed through Single Window and RMS processing.
Non-food grade items not meant for human or animal consumption may be declared in the Bill of Entry through the Single Window table using the prescribed information fields and code format. The declaration supports PGA-related filing, including applicable FSSAI declarations, in the specified BE_SW_INFO_TYPE structure. After submission, the request is routed through the Risk Management System, and cases involving refund claims are to be flagged by RMS and marked to the officer for processing.

SEZ to DTA concessional duty sales require Development Commissioner certification, ICEGATE filing, and mandatory value-addition declarations.
Eligible SEZ units may obtain a certificate from the jurisdictional Development Commissioner, after which the SEZ officer uploads the certificate particulars in ICEGATE and the unit is enabled to file Bills of Entry for concessional SEZ to DTA sales. A CERT value ledger is auto-generated in ICES, and the unit must file an 'M' type Bill of Entry quoting the e-Sanchit IRN and furnishing declarations regarding non-availment of export benefits, compliance with notification conditions, and minimum value addition.

Automated Goods Registration in ICES streamlines import processing for eligible importers with system-based registration and SMS alerts.
Automated Goods Registration in ICES has been enabled for specified import categories, replacing the existing web-based registration process. The facility is available for AEO T2 and T3 entities, eligible manufacturer importers, and importers availing Direct Port Delivery, subject in the case of eligible manufacturer importers to prior registration or approval by the Directorate of International Customs. Goods registration is automatically carried out by the system after assessment, with SMS notification on successful auto-registration.

Securities market surveillance framework consolidates trading controls, insider-trading disclosures, and PAN freeze restrictions for designated persons.
SEBI's master circular consolidates surveillance requirements for the securities market, including Trade for Trade trading rules, controls on unauthenticated news, financial disincentives for surveillance related lapses at market infrastructure institutions, insider-trading disclosures, system-driven continual disclosures and trading-window restrictions. It also updates the framework for subscription to specified securities during trading-window closure and for freezing PAN at security level for designated persons and their immediate relatives. The rescinded circulars remain effective for prior acts, pending applications, accrued rights, liabilities, penalties and proceedings.

Dress code for authorised representatives before the GST Appellate Tribunal sets mandatory attire and summer coat relaxation.
Authorised representatives appearing before the GST Appellate Tribunal must follow the prescribed dress code under Rule 122 of the GSTAT Procedure Rules, 2025. Where no professional dress exists, male representatives must wear a black coat with white shirt and black tie, and female representatives must wear a black coat over a white sari or other white dress. The black coat may be dispensed with during the summer season from 15 April to 31 August. A departmental officer appointed as an authorised representative is not treated as a regular employee of a party.

Entry Inward and Sail-out Clearance must follow statutory filings, with vessel boarding limited to risk-based checks.
Standardisation of procedures for grant of Entry Inward and Vessel Sail-out Clearance under the Customs Act, 1962, by clarifying that such clearance is governed by the statutory filing and verification framework and is not to be made contingent upon physical boarding of Customs officers on the vessel. Physical boarding is an independent statutory process, to be undertaken separately under the applicable legal provisions and imported stores regulations, where required. The circular directs prompt clearance upon filing of the requisite documents and completion of prescribed checks, with physical boarding undertaken only on a risk-based basis.

Sample collection and dispatch procedure streamlined for timely testing, courier payment, and same-day movement of customs samples.
Streamlining of sample collection and dispatch by the Central Sample Cell, JNCH requires twice-daily visits to CFSs for sealed sample collection, same-day deposit of samples for CRCL and Textile Committee laboratories, and same-day courier dispatch for specified laboratories. Courier charges and laboratory testing charges are to be borne by the Importer, Customs Broker or CFS and paid before collection, with CSC collection starting only after payment confirmation. Boarding Point and JNCH Port Terminal samples are to be collected once daily.

Custodianship renewal under cargo handling regulations extends CFS operation subject to compliance with prescribed conditions.
Custodianship of the CFS operated by M/s. Calyx Container Terminals Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, is renewed under Regulation 10 and Regulation 13 of the Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulations, 2009. The custodianship is extended for a further period of five years and remains subject to strict compliance with the conditions prescribed under HCCAR, 2009 and other applicable provisions.

GST Appellate Tribunal bench structure and appeal categorisation streamline hearing of tax, registration, refund and penalty disputes.
Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal office order constitutes Bench arrangements and classifies GST appeals into three categories for hearing. Category I covers classification, notification applicability, time and value of supply, input tax credit, liability, registration, supply determination, and certain tax short-payment or excess ITC matters. Category II covers registration, composition scheme, recovery, assessments, wrongful collection, and refund or provisional assessment issues. Category III covers seizure, confiscation, rectification, earlier law demands, instalments, attachment, penalty, compounding, and residual matters. The order also assigns Members to Benches, prescribes hearing schedules, and allows virtual, hybrid or circuit hearings with travel and daily expense entitlement where applicable.

GSTAT appeal scrutiny guidelines extended, with filing document checks, certified-copy acceptance, and no defect for valid exemptions.
Guidelines for scrutiny of appeals on the GSTAT Portal are extended to 31 December 2026 for ease of filing. Scrutiny officers must verify that APL-05 contains the required soft copies and, where higher-court exemption from court fee or pre-deposit exists, no defect is to be raised. Certified copies of the Order-in-Original or Order-in-Appeal may be accepted if the issuing authority's endorsement is satisfactory, and authorization or Vakalatnama must be uploaded. Revenue applications under section 112(3) require specified documents, with no court fee or pre-deposit and only one verification and digital signature.