Default authorised services: SEZ units need not reapply where the UAC has already approved a service.
Directs uniform application of the Department's default list of authorised services for Special Economic Zones and clarifies that SEZ Developers and Units are not required to submit fresh applications for services already approved by the Unit Approval Committee (UAC); recalls an initial list of fifty eight services and eight subsequently added services, and mandates Development Commissioners to follow Instruction No. 79 to prevent repeat approval demands.

Digitization of SEZ applications enables online submission for specified developer and unit approvals, streamlining regulatory processes.
Digitization requires online submission of specified developer and unit transactions through a government-designated digital platform, including extensions and approvals of Letters of Approval, authorized operations, periodic returns, job-work approvals, unit establishment applications, LOA renewals/extensions, APR submissions, jewellery exhibition intimation/permission, IT backup and DR/BCP permissions, exit permissions, production commencement intimation, and a grievance form; the online process is to run alongside existing channels from the commencement date, with a departmental review and prescribed compliance reporting.

Standardization of procedures: mandatory online submission of specified SEZ applications through NSDL module; action report required.
Directs uniform hosting and online receipt of specified Developer and Developer/Unit applications and reports for all SEZs through an NSDL module from 1-11-2014; lists Developer applications (authorized operations approval, LoA validity extensions, job-work approval, periodic returns) and Developer/Unit applications (unit setup, LoA renewal, jewellery exhibition permissions, DR/BCP and data tape movement permissions for IT units, exit permission, APR, job-work approval, commencement intimation); requires submission of an action taken report on implementation by the stated deadline.

SEZ approvals and extensions regulated with conditions on developer continuity, tax scrutiny, and eligibility compliance.
Board decisions concerned extensions, approvals, amendments and cancellations under the SEZ regime: formal and in-principle approvals and LoPs were extended in multiple cases where progress justified it and rejected where implementation was unsatisfactory; co-developer approvals were granted with defined operational scopes and with an explicit reservation that tax treatment of lease/down payments/premiums is examinable by Assessing Officers; conversions to formal approval and name/shareholding changes were approved subject to continuity of SEZ obligations, fulfillment of developer eligibility and disclosure of financial and PAN/jurisdictional assessing officer details to revenue authorities.

Nomination criteria for SEZ Authority membership prioritize compliant operational units via a performance-based weightage system.
Nomination to the SEZ Authority requires nominees to be senior representatives of the unit, with the unit meeting operational, compliance, and no-dues conditions and nominees available to participate in Authority meetings. Where multiple units qualify, a seven-factor weightage scheme-covering exports, investment, employment, their percentage increases, and the exports-to-investment ratio-ranks units and awards marks; the unit with the highest aggregate marks is given the opportunity to nominate its representative.

Exemption of SEZ vessels from rule restrictions allows oil spill response and exercises under Coast Guard direction.
Vessels authorised for use within Special Economic Zones are exempted from the application of Rule 34 of the SEZ Rules, 2006 when required to respond to oil spill emergencies or to participate in scheduled oil spill response exercises under the direction of the designated maritime authority pursuant to the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.

Extension of SEZ approvals tied to demonstrable operational progress; conditional co-developer and authorized-operation approvals follow compliance safeguards.
The Board approved or refused extensions of formal approvals and LoPs based on demonstrable progress toward operationalisation, granting time-limited extensions where justified and rejecting cases with unsatisfactory progress. Co-developer and authorized-operation approvals were granted subject to conditions limiting approvals to infrastructure creation or specified activities, compliance with NFE obligations, environmental and statutory clearances, and preservation of tax authorities' rights to examine and assess tax treatment of leases, premiums and transfers under SEZ and Income Tax law.

Default authorised services expanded to include Business Support, Air Passenger Transport and Accommodation; UACs may expand further.
The Department of Commerce directs that Business Support Service, Transport Passengers by Air, and Accommodation Service be added to the list of default authorised services permitted by Unit Approval Committees in Special Economic Zones, supplementing an earlier conveyed list; Development Commissioners and UACs may further expand the list to facilitate Units and Developers in their Zones.

Default authorised services in SEZs expanded to include air, rail and travel agent services, allowing UACs further facilitation.
Three travel-related services-Air Travel Agent Services, Rail Travel Agent Services, and Travel Agent Services-are added to the uniform list of default authorised services that UACs may permit in Special Economic Zones; Development Commissioners and UACs may further expand the list to facilitate units and developers.

Free Trade Warehousing Zone services allowed to supply other SEZ units for products within the sector approval.
A unit in a Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) within a Sector Specific SEZ is permitted to provide services for products covered by the sector approved for that Sector Specific SEZ to other SEZs or SEZ units, pursuant to the amendment to point (iv) of Instruction No. 49 as clarified by Instruction No. 71.

SEZ approvals: board extends approvals and LoPs, grants in principle and co developer permissions subject to compliance conditions.
The Board of Approval considered numerous SEZ regulatory matters and principally granted time bound extensions of formal approvals and Letters of Permission where progress or justification existed, approved in principle proposals and area increases subject to contiguity and state recommendations, authorized co developers and conditioned developer identity or ownership changes on continuity of obligations, eligibility (including security clearances) and disclosure to revenue authorities, and approved unit relocations and specialized operational permissions subject to tax, customs, technical and continuity safeguards. The BoA also required policy clarification on recycled items and imposed strict export and scope conditions for recycling and worn clothing units.

Absorption basis appointment for Assistant Development Commissioner requires prescribed bio-data, ACRs, vigilance clearance and NOC; incomplete applications rejected.
One post of Assistant Development Commissioner in Moradabad SEZ is to be filled on absorption basis from ADCs on deputation who can be relieved if selected. Applicants must submit duplicate applications on the prescribed Annexure with ACRs, vigilance clearance, and NOC from the parent department; incomplete, improperly formatted, or late applications will be rejected. Appointment will be a transfer on absorption basis and carries no claim to promotion within the SEZ. A head-of-department certificate confirming particulars, integrity, and absence of disciplinary or vigilance proceedings is required.

Letter of Permission validity aligned with goods usage, warehousing and reporting relaxations for export oriented units.
The Office Memorandum implements Committee recommendations to restructure EOU administration: LOP validity with staged extensions tied to certifications; usage period for goods made co terminus with LOP; permission for export warehouses outside EOU premises under existing warehousing rules; case by case approval for facility sharing among EOUs (excluding SEZ units); conditional Inter Unit Transfer with CBEC procedural clarification; reduced turnover threshold for self warehousing and self certification; a single common return for DoC and DoR; and extension of shipping bill submission time.