ACU settlement mechanism: channel ACU denominated cross border payments via AD Category I banks with central bank funding oversight.
Revised procedure requires AD Category I banks to channel eligible current international transactions through ACU using distinct ACU Dollar and ACU Euro accounts, treating such transactions like other foreign exchange business. RBI facilitates funding and repatriation by receiving/delivering US Dollar and Euro to/from AD Category I banks only upon confirmation of corresponding credits to RBI's correspondent accounts; AD Category I banks must remit/deliver amounts on the value date and face penal interest for defaults. All ACU operations remain subject to FEMA regulations and the Memorandum's procedural and documentation requirements.

Drawback claim liquidation measures require exporters to respond to outstanding EDI queries or face provisional zero drawback; supplementary claims permitted.
Special measures expedite liquidation of drawback claims stalled for replies to EDI-raised queries: exporters must use service centre printouts, help desk or automated e mail facilities to ascertain queries and submit replies by the final date; shipping bills with replies will be processed on merit if Bank Realisation Certificates (BRC) are produced, otherwise cases will be provisionally processed at zero drawback, while preserving the exporter's right to file a supplementary claim within a limited period. Earlier notices are modified and implementation issues are to be reported to the Drawback Section.

Leviability of beedi cess clarified: cess on unlabelled beedis precludes additional levy after subsequent labelling.
The Ministry confirms the 1981 notification (as amended) remains in force and clarifies cess liability: beedis exempt from Central Excise duty are exempt from beedi cess; if cess has been collected on unlabelled beedis no additional cess is payable on subsequent labelling; however, beedis initially exempt under excise that are later labelled attract cess on the labelled product. The statutory rate was revised subsequently and other provisions continue to apply.

Value addition norms for Advance Authorisation scheme updated to include low-threshold standards for specified exports.
A new Appendix 11B is added to Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1) under FTP 2009-14 prescribing value addition norms (below 15%) for specific products under the Advance Authorisation Scheme. Appendix 11B is inserted in the Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms and the Contents, and sets product-specific minimum value addition requirements, including an 8% minimum for Copper Cathode/Copper Wire Rods manufactured from copper concentrate.

Refund Payment to Bank Accounts: optional bank-credit mechanism replaces cheques, speeding NEFT/RTGS disbursement and notification.
An optional facility allows direct payment of SAD and other refunds to importers' bank accounts: claimants must submit a duplicate authorization; Refund Orders will be marked for bank payment and forwarded (not handed over) to Cash & Accounts, which will verify status, prepare a daily scroll and send it with a consolidated cheque to the bank; the bank will credit accounts via NEFT/RTGS after deducting service and transfer charges and inform importers by e-mail. The facility applies to claims filed after the notice and may be extended to certain past claims on request.

CXL concessions export allocation establishes designated agency and mandatory EUR/GSP certification for sugar exports to the EU.
Allocation of CXL Concessions sugar export quantity to the EU is authorised under the Foreign Trade Policy with the commodity listed in the ITC(HS) schedule and M/s Indian Sugar Exim Corporation Limited designated as the agency for exports under the preferential quota; EUR form must be endorsed by Customs at shipment and the GSP certificate issued by the Export Inspection Agency or the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with specified Schedule CXL Regulation entries required in both documents.

Certificates for no/low TDS/TCS: new bulk-generation tools permit Excel upload or screen replication for rapid issuance.
TDS software now permits Assessing Officers to issue multiple certificates for no/low tax deduction or collection under section 197/206C via two facilities: an Excel-based upload utility that validates bulk spreadsheet data and generates printable certificates (requiring Winscp installation via IBM support), and a screen-based replication option that copies an entered record for rapid editing and issuance.

Disposal of unclaimed cargo requires custodian NOC, valuation and auction processes with prescribed customs clearance checks.
Custodians must obtain a Group-issued NOC after verifying no agency hold and prepare duplicate files with specified consignment particulars; upon NOC they must submit the original file with detailed inventory, valuation and examination reports to the Disposal Section. The Disposal Section allocates file numbers, cross-checks holds, approves reserve prices and bids, and maintains a register. Valuation, reserve-price fixation, selection for detailed inventory and auction procedures follow the Board circulars and public notices, and stipulated timeframes apply for file returns, auction intimation and bid approval.

Carriage of domestic cargo on international flights allowed subject to operational safeguards and customs supervision.
Permission is granted for carriage of domestic cargo on international flights by private airlines, Air India and Indian Airlines subject to operational safeguards: segregated receipt and storage areas, receipt during Customs hours, marked containers/ULDs, separate colour-coded domestic tags, Customs-supervised loading/unloading, separate stowage onboard, airline arrangements for delivery on arrival, and adherence to transshipment bond and guarantee requirements where applicable. Violations may attract withdrawal of facility and penalties under the Handling of Cargo in Customs Areas Regulations, 2009.

Customs EDI migration to ICES 1.5 mandates centralized document numbering, pre migration submissions, and electronic bank confirmations.
Implementation of ICES 1.5 will migrate ICD Sabarmati EDI operations to a centrally hosted application, centralize document numbering, and enable electronic exchange of duty challans and confirmations with the designated bank. All pending Service Centre and custodian submissions must be submitted before the cut off to avoid re entry; queued cash manager items will not be migrated. Temporary scroll generation is mandatory for dbk scrolls, certain release advices remain manual, and helpdesk contacts are provided for user support.

Classification of artware and handicraft by predominant constituent material fixes Drawback Schedule heading and the applicable rate.
Artware and handicraft items must be classified in the Drawback Schedule under the heading of the constituent material in the relevant chapter, and where multiple materials exist the predominant material by weight governs classification. Certificates from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) or the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts should generally be accepted; rejection requires Commissioner approval. Once an article is assigned to a Drawback Schedule heading, the prescribed drawback rate and cap apply to the whole article. The composite article residual mechanism applies only if no heading, including residuary "others", can accommodate the article.

Line of Credit financing for agriculture and food processing projects enables India-sourced exports subject to specified supply and disbursement rules.
Exim Bank provided a Line of Credit to the Government of Mali to finance agriculture and food processing projects by procuring eligible goods, machinery, equipment and consultancy services from India; at least 85 percent of the contract price must be supplied by the seller from India and up to 15 percent (other than consultancy services) may be procured from outside India, with shipments declared on GR/SDF forms and Letters of Credit and disbursements subject to the Agreement's prescribed timelines.

Minimum disbursement requirement for precious metals applies on cumulative half yearly basis, not per consignment, clarified.
The minimum disbursement requirement is to be evaluated with reference to cumulative disbursement of the quantum of precious metal imported over a half yearly period, and not on a per consignment basis, allowing nominated agencies to aggregate disbursements across imports within the half year accounting window to meet the stipulated minimum.

Ownership and governance review of market infrastructure institutions initiated; committee to recommend reforms and invite public comments.
A committee has been constituted to review ownership and governance of market infrastructure institutions, to examine ownership structure and board composition of stock exchanges and clearing corporations, their listing and governance, the balance between regulatory and business functions considering their for profit status, relationships among exchanges, clearing corporations and technology providers, and to propose a competition policy; recommendations will be placed in the public domain for comments and the circular is issued under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992.

Pension contribution deduction limited by employee and employer contribution rules and aggregate cap with other sections.
Deduction under Section 80 CCD permits employees to claim ten per cent of salary and others ten per cent of gross total income for contributions to a notified pension scheme; employer or Central Government contributions are deductible to the extent they do not exceed ten per cent of salary. Salary includes dearness allowance if provided by terms of employment but excludes other allowances and perquisites. The aggregate deduction with sections 80C and 80CCC is capped at one lakh rupees.

Certificate of Origin authorization: Bahadurgarh Chamber added as an issuing agency for non preferential origin certification.
An amendment to the Handbook of Procedures lists Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce & Industry as an agency authorised to issue Certificate of Origin - Non Preferential for Haryana, providing its contact details and integrating the agency into the established origin certification framework under the Foreign Trade Policy.

External Commercial Borrowings liberalisation lets authorised dealer banks approve specified post-registration changes under prescribed safeguards.
Designated Authorised Dealer Category-I banks are authorised to approve specified post-LRN modifications to External Commercial Borrowings: changes to drawdown and repayment schedules provided the declared average maturity is maintained (with elongation beyond original maturity requiring prior RBI approval) must be reported to DSIM in Form 83; changes in currency of borrowing are permitted if the proposed currency is freely convertible and other ECB terms remain unchanged; change of designated AD bank is allowed on production of a No-Objection Certificate and after due diligence; name changes are permitted on Registrar of Companies evidence. Other ECB conditions remain unchanged.

Line of Credit for export financing enables India origin exports under conditional disclosure and agency commission rules.
Exim Bank's Line of Credit to Vnesheconombank, Russia finances exports eligible under India's Foreign Trade Policy. The Credit Agreement is effective from January 18, 2010, with the terminal date for opening Letters of Credit on January 17, 2013, and for disbursements on July 17, 2014. Shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms. Agency commission is ordinarily not payable, but Reserve Bank may permit up to 5% for exports requiring after sales service; such commission must be deducted from the invoice and prior approval obtained from the relevant Foreign Exchange Department. Exporters may use own funds or EEFC balances for commissions where applicable, and AD Category I banks should inform exporters and comply with prevailing instructions. Directions issued under FEMA provisions remain subject to other statutory permissions.

Confirming membership of chartered accountants via an online verification portal to ensure certificates are issued by practicing members.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has provided an online verification portal to confirm that a certificate was issued by a member holding a full time Certificate of Practice; regional authorities are directed to use this facility to ensure that only certificates issued by duly enrolled members with practice authorization are acted upon.

Voluntary correction of import declarations: amendment of RMS Bills of Entry with reassessment and payment of duty and interest
Voluntary correction of RMS facilitated Bills of Entry is allowed when importers promptly disclose inadvertent omissions and produce original B/E, Bill of Lading, invoice and packing list; amendments are examined under Section 149, followed by cancellation out of charge, EDI re assessment, and payment of differential duty and interest under Section 28(2B) read with Section 28AB, with penal proceedings withheld absent malafide intent.