Extension of re-export period: customs may allow additional time for durable containers subject to satisfactory justification.
Extensions of the six-month re-export period for durable containers may be granted by the Commissioner of Customs for up to twelve months from the end of the initial six months upon submission of genuine reasons satisfactory to the Commissioner; failure to secure an extension will render the container liable for applicable duty and interest. Off-hiring is generally not an acceptable reason. Extension requests for laden containers awaiting clearance must include specific import identifiers, and detailed container particulars and bond information must accompany any movement or extension request, with non-compliance attracting bond enforcement and penal action under the Customs Act, 1962.

Foreign exchange regulations update requires authorised dealers to adopt revised export compliance obligations under FEMA.
The circular notifies adoption of the Foreign Exchange Management (Exports of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2015, repealing and superseding the prior 2000 Regulations, directs Authorised Dealers to follow detailed annexed directions for dealings with exporters, and records that the Master Direction on exports has been updated; the directions are issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and do not affect other statutory permissions.

Equitable distribution of cases: administrative officers must allocate work evenly among standing counsels and SPPs to protect litigation quality.
The Board directs administrative officers to ensure equitable distribution of cases among Sr./Jr. Standing Counsels and Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs), noting that uneven assignment-where some counsel are overburdened and others receive few or no matters-harms litigation quality and prevents reliable performance evaluation; Chief Commissioners must implement measures to allocate work properly within their jurisdictions in accordance with existing appointment and engagement guidelines.

Public issue guidelines for InvITs: standardized merchant banker due diligence, defined filing, allocation, pricing disclosure and post issue reporting obligations.
Guidelines govern public issues of InvIT units by prescribing appointment and responsibilities of merchant bankers, staged filing of draft, offer and final offer documents with defined timelines and due diligence certificates, and disclosure obligations. They set investor category allocations and anchor investor rules, require electronic book-building and ASBA participation, mandate pricing band disclosures and ban differential pricing, and establish operational safeguards including security deposit, underwriting norms, proportionate allotment, post-issue reporting and strict controls on public communications and advertising.

Product classification: Silico manganese treated as Ferro-silico-Manganese under ITC (HS) 72023000 and eligible for FPS benefits.
Silico Manganese is chemically Ferro-silico-Manganese and both names denote the same product classified under ITC (HS) Code 72023000. Exports of this product are eligible for FPS benefits under Sl. No. 249 of Appendix 37D (PN 6) and Sl. No. 282 of Appendix 37D (PN 52), as clarified by the Directorate and consistent with the DEPB Committee decision.

Segregation of foreign materials from honey grade brass scrap treated as process waste, cleared on transaction value and classified accordingly.
Segregation of attached impurities from honey grade brass scrap is an essential pre treatment in manufacture and produces materials of distinct character and use; those segregated foreign materials are process waste, not removal of inputs as such, and must be cleared on payment of duty based on their appropriate classification and transaction value.

Display of registration certificate required; dealers must show TIN and ward number and local officers must ensure compliance.
Registered dealers must prominently display the certificate of registration at their principal place of business and a certified copy at all other business locations, and must conspicuously display their TIN and ward number outside the main entrance of each place of business; ACs and ward incharges are directed to ensure compliance within their jurisdictions.

Newsprint control amendment adds a paper mill to the authorized manufacture schedule under statutory authority upon Gazette publication.
Amending the Newsprint Control Order, 2004 under statutory authority, the Central Government inserts a new serial entry in the Schedule naming a specific paper mill and its location as an authorized newsprint manufacturing unit; the Newsprint Control (Amendment) Order, 2016 takes effect on publication in the official Gazette and references the principal 2004 Order and prior amendments.

Identity and use verification required for re export under Customs Act; examination reports must be explicit and separate.
Re export drawback claims must include a separate, self contained examination report on the shipping bill that explicitly addresses the identity of the goods and their use. Vague or cryptic phrases are unacceptable. Each re export case must be decided by the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner in a speaking, reasoned, appealable order to permit Commissioner review and ensure compliance with drawback rules.

EVC verification allowed to regularize pending unverified income tax returns; processing and final compliance required within prescribed deadline.
Verification is permitted for electronically uploaded returns for Assessment Years 2009 2010 to 2014 2015 that remained incomplete for lack of ITR V by allowing verification through EVC or by receipt of a signed ITR V by speed post; verification must be completed by the prescribed deadline and such returns will be processed and intimated accordingly, with refund interest determined under the applicable refund provision. The relaxation applies only to returns filed within the time allowed under section 139 and does not apply where the Department has taken other statutory measures after declaring a return Non est.

Coastal manifest requirement applies to vessels at import/export berths, mandating pre-arrival or pre-departure filing.
Sections 30 and 41 apply to exclusively coastal vessels using berths for import/export traffic, and the person in charge or agent must submit a coastal manifest to the proper officer prior to arrival or departure in the prescribed Form specifying vessel identifiers, voyage and port details, an itemised list of packages with shipper/consignee, cargo description, invoice/challan, container/vehicle and seal numbers, weights, ports of discharge, and a certification declaration of accuracy.

Foreign investment liberalisation for Asset Reconstruction Companies permits full automatic foreign equity, subject to SARFAESI Act constraints.
The policy amendment permits up to 100% foreign equity in Asset Reconstruction Companies on the automatic route. ARCs are entities registered under section 3 of the SARFAESI Act. Investment conditions, including sponsor shareholding and investor participation, are governed by the SARFAESI Act and RBI directions; the total holding of any individual FII/FPI remains below ten percent, and FIIs/FPIs may invest in Security Receipts subject to RBI guidelines and applicable limits. The amendment is effective immediately.

Committee notification under rule 10VA designates income tax officials to oversee international taxation and transfer pricing compliance.
Notification establishes a committee under rule 10VA(4), read with section 9A, to centralise oversight of international taxation and transfer pricing, constituted of designated senior income tax officials from the Mumbai charge, for administrative implementation and circulation to all concerned.

EPCG Authorisation forms amended to mandate revised application, redemption, clubbing and certification procedures for export obligation compliance.
Immediate amendments notify revised ANF 5A, ANF 5B, ANF 5C and Appendix 5C for the EPCG scheme: ANF 5A prescribes on line application fields and declarations for issuance of EPCG/Post Export EPCG Authorisations including capital goods particulars, duty and EO calculations, and documentation requirements; ANF 5B prescribes redemption/post export duty credit scrip procedures, required export evidence and attestations; Appendix 5C sets out the CA/Cost Accountant/Company Secretary certification and checklist for EO verification; ANF 5C governs clubbing of multiple authorisations and resultant EO aggregation.

Coastal manifest requirement: mandatory pre arrival/pre departure filing with vessel and package details for coastal cargo operations.
The notice mandates that customs provisions apply to vessels carrying exclusively coastal goods from berths used for import or export traffic and requires the person in charge or agent to deliver a coastal manifest prior to arrival or departure in a prescribed form. The form requires vessel/port particulars, detailed package level cargo information including shipper and consignee details, container/vehicle and seal numbers, weights, port of discharge, and a declarant's certification of accuracy; parcel services must supply service provider details in shipper and consignee fields.

DAK/Tapals handling procedure mandates centralized acknowledgement, designated staff posting, register entry and distribution; grievances routed to Tax Payers Service Centre.
The notice mandates that all DAK/Tapals/Correspondence be acknowledged at the DOS/Admn Section and received by three designated STAs/TAs posted at the P&E Section for Export, Import and General Commissionerate matters; each item must be entered in a register, numbered, and distributed to the relevant section. Grievances and taxpayer service correspondences received at Admn are to be forwarded to the Tax Payers Service Centre for action as per the specified office order, and all staff and trade members are directed to comply immediately.

Acceptance of Export Obligation Discharge Certificates: customs must accept DGFT-issued EODCs, only limited verification in specified cases.
Customs must accept Export Obligation Discharge Certificates issued by the trade directorate, limiting detailed verification to a defined minority of cases and investigations, and may not request routine information available in the customs EDI. For EPCG and Advance Authorizations, a copy of the EODC is sent to customs while the original authorization in duplicate is retained by the issuing office, obviating the need for the original at customs.

Tax Evasion Petition management: only TEPs deemed useful after review to be entered in the offline utility.
Review and re-categorisation of pending Tax Evasion Petitions as on 01-04-2016 must be completed in a time bound manner; only TEPs found useful and having potential for the Investigation Directorate are to be entered into the offline utility, while non-useful TEPs must be closed or forwarded to Assessing Officers per extant instructions. A Revised Standard Operating Procedure for TEP management on the ITBA platform is pending and will be released when the TEP module is ready.

Non-resident deposit regulation clarifies permitted account types and cross-border repatriation, loan and joint-holding rules for NRIs/PIOs.
These Regulations govern deposits between Indian residents and non-residents, defining key terms and exempt categories, and prescribing permitted non-resident account schemes (NRE, FCNR(B), NRO, SNRR, Escrow) with their eligibility, operational conditions, repatriation rules, loan and joint-holding provisions. They address special arrangements for companies, RRBs and power-of-attorney operations, require RBI approval for deposits outside the Regulations, and provide transitional and notification details.

Incremental export incentive cap removal allows full claim processing but requires stringent due diligence by authorities.
RAs shall process IEIS claims without imposing the earlier cap on incremental growth, while applying enhanced scrutiny per Public Notice and policy provisions. Transfer of export performance between IEC holders and certain disclaimer provisions are not admissible. Doubts about authenticity of increments must be referred to investigating agencies and claims finalized after their report. All cases require Head of Office approval and RAs may scrutinize small-value claims where prima facie irregularities exist; no right vests where impropriety or fraud is detected.