Extension of GST registration and filing deadlines for insolvency practitioners and related compliance consequences clarified for affected taxpayers.
Provides uniform clarifications on GST compliance during COVID 19: extends the special registration window for insolvency professionals; exempts corporate debtors who timely filed pre appointment returns from fresh registration; permits change of IRP/RP via amendment to registration by updating the authorized signatory (with jurisdictional officer assistance where credentials are unavailable); and extends compliance deadlines for merchant exporter export windows and filing of FORM GST ITC 04 when original deadlines fall within the COVID affected period.

Withdrawal of administrative circular on supply of ITeS services under GST prompts uniform implementation across field formations.
The Excise & Taxation Commissioner has rescinded ab initio the Circular that provided clarifications on the GST treatment of Information Technology enabled Services (ITeS), citing representations that raised apprehensions and aiming to ensure uniform implementation of GST provisions across field formations.

Relaxation of listing timelines for debt securities extended to ease disclosure and issuance compliance during the pandemic.
SEBI grants a relaxation of timelines for listing Non-Convertible Debentures, Non-Convertible Redeemable Preference Shares and Commercial Papers by extending the permissible issuance date tied to financials as of September 30, 2019; the amendment revises Clause 5 of the earlier COVID-19 relief circular, is subject to the Companies Act and rules, requires stock exchanges to notify listed entities and takes immediate effect.

Certificates of Origin submission: importers must declare origin, face verification, suspension, or security requirements for preferential duty claims.
Importers claiming preferential tariff treatment must declare that goods meet Rules of Origin, possess and furnish required information on origin criteria, and exercise reasonable care; certificates of origin do not relieve importers of this duty. Where origin is doubtful, the proper officer may seek further information, suspend preferential treatment pending verification, and require security equal to the differential duty or deposit of that duty. Issuing Authorities must be notified and may restore or be the basis for disallowance of preferential treatment depending on the information furnished; certain defects in certificates permit refusal without verification.

Revalidation authority for export authorisations shifted to DGFT (Hqrs), centralising revalidation for SCOMET and non-SCOMET exports.
Paragraph 2.20(b) of the Handbook of Procedures under FTP 2015-2020 is amended to provide that Export Authorisation, including for SCOMET items, may be revalidated on merits for a period of six months at a time and up to a maximum of twelve months by the DGFT (Hqrs), centralising revalidation authority at DGFT headquarters for both Non-SCOMET and SCOMET items.

Provisional assessment: acceptance of undertaking in lieu of bond extended, with requirement to replace undertaking by specified deadline.
For provisional assessment, importers may submit a Bond or an Undertaking in lieu of Bond where eligible, with acceptance tied to prior Board Circular guidance and amended Public Notices. Importers using the undertaking must replace it with a proper Bond within the extended timeframe specified in the governing notices; other provisions of the original Public Notice remain unchanged and the amendment is to be publicised and treated as a Standing Order, with implementation difficulties to be reported to the Additional/Joint Commissioner.

EDI Port Clearance requires specific certificates, verification, and continuity bond based advance clearance with seven day document submission.
Procedure prescribes documentary requirements and verification steps for granting EDI Port Clearance under Section 42, including a specified list of certificates and declarations. Advance Port Clearance may be issued to agents who furnish a one time continuity bond, subject to submission of listed documents within seven days and preventive officer checks before sailing. During lockdown scanned documents and undertakings may be emailed for verification and issuance; boarding officers must ensure formalities and endorse the clearance prior to departure.

Regulatory sandbox allows SEBI-registered entities to live-test FinTech solutions with limited exemptions, reporting and revocation safeguards.
SEBI's Regulatory Sandbox permits SEBI registered entities to live test FinTech solutions on limited real customers under safeguards. Applicants must satisfy eligibility criteria-innovation, need for live testing, prior offline testing, user benefits, risk management, testing readiness and post test deployment plans-and submit a CEO certified application. SEBI reviews suitability within 30 working days, determines test conditions, and may grant testing authorisation for up to 12 months. Selective regulatory relaxations or a limited certificate of registration may be granted, but core investor protection, KYC and AML requirements remain non derogable. Reporting, record keeping and revocation provisions apply.

Mutual fund physical holdings restricted; disposal timelines required for gold/silver and other commodities under new rules.
SEBI restricts mutual fund schemes from investing in physical goods except in gold via Gold ETFs, but permits holding underlying goods only when physical settlement of exchange-traded commodity derivatives occurs; such holdings must be disposed of within prescribed timelines-gold and silver within 180 days, and other commodities by the immediate next expiry day of the same contract series or, if the Final Expiry Date precedes that, within 30 days-while all other conditions of the earlier circular remain unchanged.

Faceless Assessment rollout for imports under Chapters 84-85 assigns bills centrally while ports handle physical checks and bonds.
Phase 1 implements Faceless Assessment for imports mainly under Chapters 84 and 85 between Bengaluru and Chennai from 8 June 2020: the Customs Automated System assigns bills of entry to designated Faceless Assessment Groups which verify self-assessments, raise electronic queries via ICEGATE/e-Sanchit, order examinations or testing, and issue speaking orders for re-assessments; Port Assessment Groups and Turant Suvidha Kendras remain responsible for physical examinations, bond/BG registration, provisional assessment finalisation, and actions when cases are routed back to the port. Appeals against re-assessment orders lie with the Commissioner (Appeals) having jurisdiction over the port of import.

Faceless Assessment rollout enables remote assignment of bill of entry assessments across interlinked customs zones, preserving local appeal jurisdiction.
Phase 1 introduces Faceless Assessment at Bengaluru and Chennai by enabling the Customs Automated System to assign non facilitated Bills of Entry for specified imported articles to nominated Faceless Assessment groups on a first cum first basis, irrespective of the physical location of the assessing officer. Complementary measures preserve local appellate jurisdiction by empowering jurisdictional Commissioners of Customs (Appeals) to decide appeals for imports into their territories, nominate nodal Commissioners to monitor assessment practice, and require establishment of Turant Suvidha Kendras to facilitate trade and carry out specified verifications.

Relaxation of filing timelines for alternative and venture capital funds allowing delayed submission of specified monthly regulatory filings.
AIFs and VCFs may submit regulatory filings for the months ending March, April, May and June 2020 on or before August 07, 2020, under the authority of Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, with immediate effect; the Circular is published on the regulator's website under Legal Framework and Circulars.

GST appeal hearing jurisdiction is allocated among senior departmental officers by monetary threshold and designated territorial or functional zones.
GST appeal hearing jurisdiction under section 107 of the DGST Act, 2017 is allocated among senior departmental officers by monetary threshold, territorial zone and functional branch. SCTT-I to SCTT-IV hear appeals exceeding 15 lakhs for their respective assigned zones and specialised branches. The Additional Commissioner handles specified zones and lower-value Enforcement and Embassy Refund appeals, while the JCTT hears appeals up to 15 lakhs for Zones II to VII and XI (KCS).

Extension of AEO certification validity eases renewal timelines while excluding entities with adverse reports.
Extension of AEO certificates validity was directed to ease renewal during the lockdown: certificates expired or expiring within the affected period are extended to a specified cut off, except where a negative report is received. Authorities must publicise the extension via Trade/Public Notices and report implementation difficulties to the issuing office.

Import authorization under MoU: Mozambique-grown pulses allowed subject to certificate-based verification and DGFT NOC.
Imports of pigeon peas and other pulses from Mozambique under the bilateral MoU are allowed subject to a fiscal-year allocation and conditions: shipment only via five specified ports; presentation of a Certificate of Origin certified by Mozambique's designated authority with government stamps; transmission of scanned certificates by the issuing authority and by the Indian importer to specified DGFT email addresses; and DGFT verification and issuance of a no-objection communication to enable Customs clearance.

Undertaking in lieu of bond: replacement deadline extended and provisional assessment permitted under pandemic facilitation measures.
Provisional assessment may be effected upon submission of a Bond or an Undertaking in lieu of Bond for eligible categories as per the cited circulars and public notices, subject to existing security requirements. Importers using the undertaking must replace it with a proper Bond by the revised deadline prescribed by the Commissionerate; all other provisions of the earlier Public Notice remain in force.

Undertaking in lieu of bond under customs rules extended, permitting temporary acceptance with existing conditions until review.
Acceptance of an undertaking in lieu of a bond for customs clearance is permitted temporarily under the existing conditions prescribed by the Board, allowing trade participants to submit an undertaking now and furnish the proper bond subsequently; this relaxation will be reviewed by the Board after the lockdown and trade stakeholders must report difficulties to the customs office.

Brand Rate duty drawback fixation: expedited processing and provisional grants to clear long pending applications and enable disbursal.
Customs directs expedited disposal of pending applications for fixation of Brand Rate duty drawback, mandating processing of complete final Brand Rate applications and requests for provisional Brand Rate or provisional All Industry Rate, promoting electronic document submission and risk based inquiry by principal officers where verification is impractical, while allowing acceptance of prior Central Excise verifications and enabling eligible exporters to switch to the Revised Simplified scheme to accelerate provisional disbursal.

Acceptance of undertaking in lieu of bond extended for import clearance, with bond submission deadline deferred accordingly.
The facility to accept an undertaking in lieu of a customs bond for clearance is extended until 15.06.2020, with the deadline for submission of the proper bond in respect of such undertakings extended until 30.06.2020. All conditions set out in the earlier Circulars and Public Notices remain unchanged. Stakeholders may contact the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner (Appraisement) for difficulties, and the Public Notice functions as a standing order for officers and staff.

24x7 Customs clearance extended to facilitate trade during COVID; ports to deploy officers and maintain after-hours records.
24x7 Customs clearance is extended at all Customs formations to facilitate trade during the COVID-19 situation; designated sea ports and airports already operating 24x7 shall continue. Chief Commissioners must deploy sufficient officers round-the-clock at sea ports, air cargo stations, ICDs and CFSs, maintain station-wise records of Bills of Entry and Shipping Bills filed beyond normal hours, and issue appropriate public notices or standing orders.