AEO certification validity extension grants a uniform renewal deadline for certificates affected during the COVID disruption period.
The Board directed that all AEO certificates expired or expiring between 01.03.2020 and 30.09.2020 are extended in validity to 30.09.2020 to facilitate renewals, except for entities against which a negative report is received; the measure amends Circular No. 27/2020 and requires publicity via Trade/Public Notices and reporting of implementation difficulties.

Extension of recognition validity for Pre shipment Inspection Agencies: administrative short term extension preserves inspection continuity.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, exercising powers under the Foreign Trade Policy and relaxing the Handbook of Procedure, extends the recognition validity of Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies listed in Appendix 2G of the Aayat Niryat Forms whose tenures would expire on or before the specified cutoff, granting a limited administrative extension to maintain continuity of inspection services and compliance mechanisms.

Export quota for PPE medical coveralls: monthly application window with specified manufacturer documentation and three-month licence validity.
Procedure establishes a controlled export regime for PPE medical coveralls with a fixed monthly export quota allocated through online applications filed within the first three days of each month, approvals completed by the tenth day, and export licences valid for three months. Eligibility requires the applicant be a manufacturer with registration proof, testing/accreditation from Ministry of Textiles-recognized labs, either importer's standards certificate or BIS certificate, a Chartered Engineer's certificate certifying fabrics manufactured in India, IEC copy, purchase order/invoice, and self-attested documents; only one application per IEC per month is permitted.

Extension of compliance timeline for portfolio manager guidelines; provisions now deferred and will apply from the revised effective date.
SEBI has deferred the applicability of the Guidelines for Portfolio Managers by a further three months, making the provisions of the earlier circular applicable with effect from October 01, 2020. The deferment responds to market conditions and requests from portfolio managers and is issued under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992, coming into force with immediate effect; the circular is published on the SEBI website under relevant categories.

Customs EDI centralization enables electronic filing, assessment, bonds and licence management, standardizing import export clearances under ICES 1.5.
Centralized ICES 1.5 implementation at the specified ICD enables electronic filing and automated processing of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills, integration with ICEGATE for remote filing and digital signatures, designation of banks for duty and drawback transactions, service centre data entry and charge schedules, and connectivity to CBIC National Data Centre for workflow, assessment, audit and release procedures.

Investigation timelines require staged document collection, escalation, security deposit and CRD registration to ensure timely SVB case processing.
Procedural guidelines divide SVB work into four groups-Preliminary Scrutiny, Documents Collection & Follow up, Final Investigation, and File & Data Management-each with prescribed duties: screening and checklist preparation, persistent requisition and escalation including EDD and summons, timely preparation and approval of investigation reports with extension protocols, and CRD entry plus weekly/monthly reporting; Annexure-1 provides a detailed documentary checklist tied to Annexure-A/B to standardize evidence collection and tracking.

Relaxation of meeting gap extended; boards and audit committees must still meet at least four times annually.
Relaxation of the maximum permitted interval between consecutive board and Audit Committee meetings is extended to cover meetings up to July 31, 2020, while requiring boards and audit committees of listed entities to hold at least four meetings per year; stock exchanges must notify listed entities and disseminate the circular, which takes immediate effect and is issued under SEBI's regulatory powers subject to the Companies Act and related rules.

Animal quarantine sample collection procedures updated: customs to draw, seal and centralize samples for quarantine NOC processing.
Procedure for drawl and collection of livestock product samples for Animal Quarantine NOC is standardized: samples are drawn in presence of a customs officer and broker/importer, sealed, and collected by Customs Central Sample Cell (CSC) from CFSs to CSC. An Animal Quarantine officer will daily attend CSC for half a day to accept sealed samples and process the NOC; importers/CBs need not deliver samples to the off site quarantine office.

Registered-supplier threshold for real estate promoters governs GST payment on shortfall value through FORM GST DRC-03.
Payment of GST by a real estate promoter or developer is required on the value of inward supplies that fall short of the prescribed 80 per cent registered-supplier threshold for inputs and input services, excluding specified land-rights and fuel-related supplies. The tax on the shortfall must be discharged electronically through the common portal by the end of the quarter following the financial year. The prescribed form for reporting and payment of this shortfall tax is FORM GST DRC-03.

Digital delivery of IEC services mandates user registration and mandatory digital signature linking for online IEC processing.
An online platform for IEC services requires username/password registration linked to registered mobile and email with OTP/email authentication; users must link logins to specific IECs using Digital Signature/Aadhaar e-Sign, which is mandatory for applying or modifying IECs and managing IEC-linked users. The platform will migrate legacy data for online processing and monitoring, include a chatbot for queries, and additional trade modules will be rolled out after the first phase stabilises. Regional Authorities must ensure staff have official email accounts and updated mobile numbers for Back Office access and promote awareness and training. IEC application and modification services will be temporarily suspended for the go-live cutover.

Extension of filing deadline for Annual Secretarial Compliance Report to July 31 due to COVID 19; exchanges to notify.
Extension of timeline for submission of the Annual Secretarial Compliance Report by listed entities is granted for one additional month to July 31, 2020, following representations received and continuing operational difficulties due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The Circular is effective immediately and requires Recognized Stock Exchanges to notify and disseminate the extension to all listed entities that have issued specified securities.

Paperless Customs: electronic Shipping Bill and e Gatepass PDFs replace printed copies, enabling QR based authenticity verification.
Electronic transmission of the PDF Shipping Bill bearing the Final LEO copy and the e Gatepass replaces routine printing and physical docket maintenance; PDFs will include a digitally signed encrypted QR code with key shipment details and a version number for authenticity checks via ICEGATE/ICETRAK. LEO messages will be sent to custodians integrated with ICEGATE; exporters must upload all supporting documents to e Sanchit and physical collection of dockets is dispensed with.

Paperless Customs expands electronic transmission of digitally signed Shipping Bill and eGatepass PDFs to exporters and brokers.
Electronic transmission of digitally generated PDF copies of the Shipping Bill bearing Final LEO and the eGatepass will replace mandatory printing and physical dockets. PDFs will include a digitally signed, encrypted QR code encoding key shipment details and a version number for authenticity and tamper-evidence; custodians integrated with ICEGATE will receive LEO messages electronically. All supporting export documents must be uploaded to eSanchit and field units must ensure custodian registration and operational support for the paperless process.

Video conferencing personal hearings enabled for tax proceedings, with emailed notices, ID requirements and an electronic record requirement.
Personal hearings under SGST proceedings will be conducted by video conferencing with notices served by email and advance communication of meeting links and assistance contacts. Representatives must file scanned vakalatnama and photo ID by official email; hearings use approved VC applications and departmental VC facilities. Oral submissions will be reduced to a written "record of personal hearing," emailed as a PDF within one day; parties may amend and return the signed record within three days or be deemed to have accepted it. The emailed record is recognised under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

CSR contribution to PM CARES Fund: amendment to Schedule provisions renders prior office memorandum redundant and superseded.
The circular confirms that the amendment to Schedule VII of the Companies Act is deemed to have come into force on 28 March 2020, and accordingly the Office Memorandum CSR-05/1/2020-CSR_MCA dated 28.03.2020 is redundant and stands superseded.

Order-to-trade ratio limits for algorithmic trading: higher OTR slabs allowed with deterrent penalties and temporary cooling-off.
SEBI allows stock exchanges to introduce higher OTR penalty slabs with deterrent incremental penalties and requires a cooling-off measure whereby a member recording three instances of OTR at or above the higher threshold within a rolling thirty-day period is prohibited from placing orders for the first fifteen minutes of the next trading day; exchanges must amend their byelaws, rules or regulations as needed.

Extension of filing deadline for listed entities' financial results due to COVID-19; regulator grants further compliance relief.
The timeline for submission of quarterly and annual financial results for the period ending 31 March 2020 under the Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements is extended by one month; the same extension applies to entities with listed non convertible debt instruments and similar securities for half yearly and annual submissions. The circular takes immediate effect and stock exchanges are directed to notify and disseminate the extension, issued under the regulator's statutory powers and applicable listing regulations.

Custodian appointment renewed: custodian and CCSP status maintained subject to regulatory compliance and AEO-linked bank guarantee terms.
Renewal appoints M/s. Seabird Marine Services Pvt. Ltd. as Custodian and as Customs Cargo Services Provider under the Customs Act and HCCAR 2009, reaffirming custody of imported goods until clearance, warehousing or transshipment and custody of export cargo for examination and stuffing. The renewal is conditional on compliance with the Customs Act and HCCAR 2009, a fixed five-year term, a bank guarantee waiver tied to the CFS's AEO-LO accreditation (with obligation to furnish a bank guarantee if AEO status lapses), and the Commissioner's right to review or revoke approval for non-compliance or governmental direction.

Paperless Customs: digital Shipping Bill and e Gatepass with tamper proof QR to replace printouts, and mandatory e Sanchit upload enforced.
Customs shall electronically transmit PDF Final LEO copies of the Shipping Bill and e Gatepass PDFs to registered exporters and customs brokers, replacing routine printing and physical dockets. The Final LEO PDF will include a digitally signed, encrypted QR code with key shipment details and a version number; custodians must integrate with ICEGATE or register. e Gatepass PDFs will carry summary logistics details and QR codes for the document and each container/package. All supporting export documents must be uploaded to e Sanchit; exceptional printouts require Commissioner approval.

Paperless customs: electronic Shipping Bill and e Gatepass PDFs with secure QR codes replace routine printed copies.
Electronic transmission replaces routine printing: the Directorate General of Systems will email the Final LEO PDF and the e Gatepass PDF to registered exporters and customs brokers. Each PDF carries a digitally signed, encrypted QR code with key shipment details and a version number for authenticity checks; e Gatepass PDFs include both document-level and package/container-level QR codes. LEO messages are sent to ICEGATE integrated custodians, all supporting documents must be uploaded to e Sanchit, and exceptions for printing require approval by the relevant Commissioner.