SEZ governance and approvals: Board extends approval validity, allows area changes, de-notification, and processing-area conversions.
The Board of Approval for Special Economic Zones ratified the previous minutes, extended a unit's Letter of Approval for one year, approved an increase in development rights and land area for an existing co-developer, permitted partial de-notification of SEZ land containing a hotel, and allowed multiple conversions of processing built-up area into Non-Processing Area under Rule 11B after repayment of duty benefits and issuance of no-dues certificates. It also approved amalgamation of two adjoining SEZs into one multi-sector SEZ, subject to stricter existing conditions, and remanded an appeal against cancellation of a unit's Letter of Approval for fresh decision after hearing.

GST Appellate Tribunal functioning and e-filing guidance issued for Agra Bench jurisdiction and appeal filings.
The GSTAT, Agra Bench is functioning from its temporary address and will shortly shift to its permanent address in Sikandara, Agra. Its jurisdiction covers 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and it is presently accepting filings and hearings in appeals under section 112 of the CGST Act, 2017 and other relevant provisions of the CGST Act, 2017 and the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017, subject to the GSTAT (Procedure) Rules, 2025.

Foreign portfolio investment debt limits remain unchanged for government securities, state securities and corporate bonds in the new financial year.
Limits for foreign portfolio investment in debt instruments for financial year 2026-27 are maintained at 6 per cent for Government Securities, 2 per cent for State Government Securities and 15 per cent for corporate bonds under the General Route. The incremental increase in the G-Sec limit continues to be split equally between the General and Long-term sub-categories, while the entire increase in SGS limits is allocated to the General sub-category. Investments in specified securities are to be reckoned under the Fully Accessible Route, and all existing and future investments under the Voluntary Retention Route are brought within the investment limits applicable to FPI investment under the General Route from April 01, 2026.

Late Bill of Entry filing charges may be waived where documented reasons establish sufficient cause for delay.
Late filing of a Bill of Entry at a customs airport attracts prescribed charges unless sufficient cause for delay is established. Charges are capped at the duty payable on the relevant Bill of Entry, or at the prescribed ceiling where duty or other charges are not payable. The designated proper officer may waive charges upon a documented request by the importer or customs broker, supported by evidence of the cause of delay, including ICEGATE-related records where applicable. The electronic waiver facility operates separately from assessment and must be used before duty payment with approval.

Customs area declaration for IWAI BISN Jetty continues for export loading, with pollution clearance required before fly ash handling.
Declaration of IWAI BISN Jetty, Kolkata as a customs area was continued for loading fly ash, granulated slag and gypsum for export to Bangladesh through riverine protocol routes. The validity of the earlier public notice was extended for five years from 01.04.2026 to 31.03.2031, and exporters were required to produce NOC/CTO from WBPCB before loading fly ash.

Body worn camera recording for customs cargo examinations begins to support transparency, accountability, and orderly trade cooperation.
Mandatory use of Body Worn Cameras by Customs Examining Officers during physical examination of import and export cargo at Inland Container Depots under Chennai-II (Import) Commissionerate is implemented with effect from 01.04.2026. All examinations on and after that date are to be recorded from the opening of packages or containers through completion of examination, including interactions with the importer, exporter or authorised representative. At the commencement of each examination, the Officer must make a brief recorded statement identifying the relevant cargo details and the attending representative.

GST Appellate Tribunal jurisdiction and filing procedure for Delhi State Bench begin with new operational notice.
The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), Delhi State Bench has commenced operations from a temporary address in New Delhi and exercises jurisdiction over all districts in the Union Territory of NCT, Delhi. Appeals and related proceedings from that jurisdiction are to be instituted before the Delhi State Bench under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the relevant State Goods and Services Tax Act. Filing must comply with the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2025 and related administrative directions.

QR Code Customs Passes replace old physical passes, with online issuance, renewal, and authentication through the CBLMS portal.
Digitally verifiable QR Code-enabled Customs Passes are introduced through the CBLMS portal to replace old physical passes used by Customs Brokers, employees and IEC holders under the self-category framework. Customs Brokers and authorised employees holding F, G and H category passes, as well as importers and exporters holding self-category passes, are advised to apply online for issuance or renewal after surrendering existing passes. Manual non-QR self-category passes and F, G and H passes are to be treated as invalid from specified cut-off dates, and QR Code passes are to be displayed and authenticated at Customs formations.

System-based e-Scheduling for cargo examination introduces transparent online scheduling, rescheduling, and status tracking for imported goods.
System-based e-Scheduling is introduced for examination of imported cargo through ICEGATE 2.0 to improve transparency, efficiency and certainty in the physical examination process. Importers, IEC holders and authorised Customs Brokers may electronically schedule, view and reschedule examination of registered imported goods, with automated notifications to officers and custodians. Examination slots are allocated by the system based on availability, while rescheduling, holding or removal from the schedule is permitted only by the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner with recorded reasons. All stakeholders are required to use the module.

Transshipment of foreign cargo: customs clearance process set for Mundra amid disrupted maritime routes and bond verification
Permission framework for international transshipment of FCL/LCL cargo between Mundra and other customs stations is prescribed in light of disruption in maritime routes caused by closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Requests for movement of foreign transhipment cargo are to be made to the Docks Preventive Section, Customs Commissionerate, Mundra, together with the shipping line or agent's letter, copy of the Master Bill of Lading bearing seal numbers for containerized cargo, and the transhipment bond with insurance. The submitted particulars are to be verified and electronically transmitted between nodal officers, with additional confirmation on storage, infrastructure, and operational readiness before movement is permitted.

Transshipment bond conditions updated for enhanced bond value, validity, and bank guarantee waiver under customs procedure.
Amendment in the transshipment bond conditions modifies the bond value stated in the earlier public notice for transshipment permission granted to M/s FedEx Express Transportation and Supply Chain Services India Private Limited. The notice records execution of an appropriate transshipment bond valid up to 31.12.2028 for compliance with the Customs Act, 1962, the relevant customs circulars, and other applicable rules, regulations, notifications and instructions, and notes waiver from furnishing bank guarantee. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Forex counter regulation allows exchange of Indian Rupee notes by residents and non-residents at international airport departure halls.
Foreign exchange counters in international airports may accept exchange of Indian Rupee notes from residents as well as non-residents at departure halls in the Duty-Free Area or Security Hold Area beyond the Immigration or Customs desk. The instruction revises the existing framework governing money changing activities in airports and requires the Master Direction on Money Changing Activities to be amended accordingly.

Export obligation discharge certificates drive extended to clear old Advance Authorisation and EPCG pending cases
Special drive for expeditious issuance of Export Obligation Discharge Certificates under the Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes has been extended from 1 April 2026 to 31 May 2026. The extended drive prioritises older pending applications, long-deficient cases, and matters delayed for want of complete documents or clarification from authorisation holders. Trade and authorisation holders are advised to furnish outstanding documents promptly and respond within prescribed timelines. Regional Authorities must adopt an age-wise pendency clearance strategy.

Mandatory body camera recording for import cargo examinations strengthens transparency, audit trails and preservation of evidence in Customs processes.
Mandatory Body Worn Camera use is required for Customs officers conducting physical examination of import cargo to create a transparent and auditable examination record and minimise disputes. Recording must start before packages or containers are opened and continue through completion, covering goods examination, stakeholder interactions, seal condition, opening, verification of description and quantity, and sampling where required. Interruptions must be recorded with reasons. Recordings must be securely retained for two years, or until final disposal where linked to investigation, dispute or litigation.

International Valuation Standards notified for insolvency valuations under the Code across resolution, liquidation, and bankruptcy processes.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India notifies International Valuation Standards issued by the International Valuation Standards Council as the applicable valuation standards for all valuations conducted under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and the regulations made thereunder. The circular applies to corporate insolvency resolution, liquidation, voluntary liquidation, pre-packaged insolvency resolution, and bankruptcy of personal guarantors, and remains effective from the date of issue until further orders.

Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal functioning notice sets Chennai Bench jurisdiction, filing procedure, and e-filing support framework.
The Chennai Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal has commenced operations at its temporary office in Chennai and will exercise jurisdiction over specified districts in Tamil Nadu. All appeals, applications and related proceedings within this jurisdiction are to be instituted before the Chennai Bench in accordance with the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2025 and other applicable directions. The GSTAT portal also provides the e-filing advisory, procedure rules, presidential orders and filing support through helpline and help-centre facilities.

Faceless assessment of SEZ to DTA bills of entry streamlines concessional duty clearance while existing compliance requirements continue.
Concessional duty benefits for eligible SEZ manufacturing units clearing goods to the Domestic Tariff Area require the Bill of Entry for home consumption to be filed on the common portal and assessed under the Customs Act and rules. Such Bills of Entry are to be processed through faceless assessment and the Risk Management System, while existing SEZ filing and compliance requirements remain unchanged. Post-assessment functions continue with the jurisdictional specified officer or authorised officer, and grievances are to be routed through the ICEGATE Helpdesk.

Foreign exchange derivative restrictions tighten on INR contracts, limiting non-deliverable positions, rebooking, and related-party dealings.
Authorised Dealers are prohibited from offering non-deliverable derivative contracts involving INR to resident or non-resident users, while deliverable foreign exchange derivative contracts may continue only for hedging requirements and only where no offsetting non-deliverable positions are maintained. Rebooking of any cancelled foreign exchange derivative contract involving INR is barred, and no foreign exchange derivative contract involving INR may be undertaken with related parties. The instructions apply immediately until further review.

Overseas investment references now move to designated Reserve Bank Regional Offices through PRAVAAH portal routing for authorised dealer banks.
Submission of references relating to overseas investment received from persons resident in India through authorised dealer category I banks is shifted from central processing to seven designated Regional Offices with effect from 1 April 2026. Banks must route such references through the Reserve Bank's PRAVAAH portal in accordance with the relevant UIN prefix mapping to the specified Regional Office.

Guarantee reporting under FEMA requires specified returns, quarterly submission through CIMS, and unique transaction numbering.
Reporting obligations under the Foreign Exchange Management (Guarantees) Regulations, 2026 require use of specified RBI return files for guarantee issuance, modification and invocation. Authorised dealer banks must submit the returns through CIMS within thirty calendar days from the end of the relevant quarter and assign a unique Guarantee Transaction Number for each guarantee issuance. For late submission fee purposes, invocation returns are measured by the liability created on invocation, while issue and modification returns are treated as Nil.