Margin Period of Risk strengthened, requiring longer MPOR assumptions and scaled-up initial margins to address liquidation risk.
The circular mandates a minimum Margin Period of Risk (MPOR) of two days or higher per product based on liquidity, requiring Clearing Corporations and Exchanges to scale up initial and exposure margins via an expanded Price Scan Range (PSR) for computing Worst Scenario Loss; it also standardises PSR for index contracts and raises the Short Option Minimum Charge.

Early warning mechanism to detect diversion of client securities and enable preventive regulatory actions by exchanges and depositories.
Early warning mechanism requires Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations and Depositories to identify and share alerts indicating diversion of client securities-such as financial deterioration of brokers, suspicious pledge or demat account activity, investor complaints, RBS/Enhanced Supervision flags and inspection non cooperation-and to reconcile clearing pay in/pay out with depository transfers. Where deterioration or unauthorized transfers are established, exchanges and depositories may jointly apply preventive measures including blocking collateral, limiting proprietary trading, deactivating terminals, inspections, appointing forensic auditors, freezing client account debits, imposing concurrent audits and restricting use of powers of attorney. Implementation date: February 1, 2019.

AEO online filing launched; digital processing enabled with parallel manual option and aligned review and PCA cycles.
The AEO Web Application (aeoindia.gov.in) enables online filing and processing of AEO T1 applications and issuance of digitised AEO Certificate, with departmental guidance circulated and concurrent manual filing allowed until the prescribed transition cut-off to avoid processing delays. Certificate validity for AEO-T1 and AEO-T2 is extended to three years, and review and onsite PCA cycles for AEO-T1/AEO-T2 are aligned to a three-year interval while AEO-T3 and AEO-LO reviews occur every five years; ad hoc reviews may be initiated if compliance is suspected to be compromised.

Authorized Economic Operator online application launched, enabling digital submission, document upload and zonal accreditation for applicants.
Launch of an online Authorized Economic Operator portal enables applicants to register with ID/password and OTP, complete Annexure 1 and Annexure 2, upload supporting documents, preview the application and submit it electronically; submitted applications move to Customs officials' dashboards for zonal-level AEO-TI accreditation while manual filing remains available during the transition.

Annual return filing deadline extended for the initial GST period due to delayed electronic system readiness
The Order addresses the filing timeline for annual returns under section 44 of the Tripura State Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. Because the electronic filing system was still being developed, the annual return for the period from 1 July 2017 to 31 March 2018 could not be furnished within the ordinary timeline. An Explanation inserted after section 44(2) provides that the annual return for this period must be furnished electronically on or before 31 March 2019.

MEIS eligibility updated for Sal Oil, Kokam Oil and Mango Butter, granting export incentive benefits.
Two HS codes have been added to Appendix 3B, Table 2 of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), making Sal oil (Kokam) and Mango Butter (cultivated) eligible for MEIS benefits at the prescribed rate for exports made from the date of publication. Eligibility is contingent on the Shipping Bill description matching the Table 2 description; the entries are also added to the Annexure of the earlier public notice.

Test purchase authorisation enables tax officers to buy goods or services to verify issuance of tax invoices or bills of supply.
Authorisation under Section 67(12) CGST permits Deputy and Assistant Commissioners to cause purchases of goods or services from a taxable person's premises to verify whether tax invoices or bills of supply are issued in accordance with law; the power applies to all Central GST Divisions and the Commissionerate's Head Quarters Preventive Wing.

All Industry Rates revision updates duty drawback entitlements and prescribes suffix filing requirements for exporters.
Revision of All Industry Rates (AIRs) for Duty Drawback assigns an AIR and caps to each tariff item to neutralize Customs and remnant Central Excise duties on inputs, requires exporters to use suffix 'B' (or 'D' for garments under Special Advance Authorization) when claiming AIRs, introduces new tariff items, adjusts and rationalizes rates across multiple sectors due to changes in duty structure, input and export prices and import intensity, and provides for exporter representations to the Drawback Committee with supporting data for consideration of higher rates.

Online written examination for customs broker licensing: NACIN to administer; applicant contact and ID details must be forwarded.
Principal Commissioners/Commissioners must forward applicant information to NACIN in the prescribed format for the online Customs Broker Licensing written examination, and publish a public notice requesting passport-size photographs, mobile numbers, and email IDs from candidates, ensuring no accepted application is omitted; the information must be furnished to NACIN within the Board's required time frame and implementation issues referred to the Board.

Market SOC framework mandates MII majority ownership and voluntary intermediary subscription to meet cyber security compliance requirements.
SEBI requires MIIs to establish a separate Market SOC with MIIs holding at least fifty-one percent, available on voluntary subscription to intermediaries, providing technological cyber security services while intermediaries retain responsibility for people and process obligations; the Market SOC must ensure adherence to minimum IT and security protocols, issue prescribed audit reports to participants, undergo annual audits by the MII with submission to SEBI, and secure regulatory approval under applicable securities regulations, with MIIs required to amend bylaws and systems within six months.

Disposal of unclaimed cargo procedures reaffirmed; importers, exporters and brokers must comply and report implementation difficulties.
Procedure for disposal of un-claimed and un-cleared cargo under the Customs Act is reaffirmed for importers, exporters, trade and customs brokers, referencing prior Board circulars as the procedural basis for expeditious clearance and disposal of cargo lying with custodians, and inviting stakeholders to report any difficulties in implementation to the issuing office.

Clubbing of FPI investment limits clarified: common ownership or control triggers grouping, with exemptions and breach remedies.
Clubbing of FPI investment limits is based on common ownership exceeding fifty percent or on common control, with entities so connected treated as an investor group and their investments aggregated to the single-FPI limit. Exemptions apply to appropriately regulated public retail funds and specified look-through or manager-regulated structures. Foreign government agencies forming part of an investor group are clubbed with the government and related entities; distinct recognition under bilateral treaties may be permitted. Breach remedies permit divestment within five trading days from settlement or conversion of excesss holdings into foreign direct investment.

Extension of filing deadline for Form NFRA-1: thirty days from form deployment for applicable bodies corporate under NFRA Rules.
The time limit for filing Form NFRA-1 under sub rule (2) and sub rule (3) of rule 3 of the National Financial Reporting Authority Rules, 2018 is fixed at 30 days from the date the form is deployed on the Ministry/NFRA website; this applies to all bodies corporate governed by the rule, excluding certain companies not required to file.

AEO programme digitization: online AEO-T1 filing enabled and trade urged to migrate to the web application for certificate processing.
A web-based platform for AEO-T1 online filing (aeoindia.gov.in) has been introduced for applicants and customs officials to file, process and receive digitized AEO T1 certificates; manual filing will continue concurrently through the transition period to prevent delays. The validity and review/OSPCA intervals for AEO T1 and T2 certificates have been synchronized to a uniform three-year term, while the Digitisation Implementation Cell may initiate reviews at any time if compliance concerns arise.

Importer Exporter Code issuance requires firm-name IEC, address proof and pre-printed cancelled cheque or bank certificate.
The IEC is issued in the name of the firm; the person submitting the application is recorded as the applicant whose mobile and email are used for verification. Two documents must be uploaded: address proof of the firm (specified list) and either a pre-printed cancelled cheque or a bank certificate in the prescribed format. If address documents are in another name, an NOC from that name in favour of the firm is also required. Proprietorships may use proprietor-name evidence and proprietor-name cheques.

EOU notification amendments align customs and excise rules with current foreign trade policy and GST applicability implications.
Amendments align Customs and Central Excise notifications for EOUs with the current Foreign Trade Policy and GST framework, permitting temporary clearance of imported goods without immediate payment of Customs duties, IGST and Compensation Cess while leaving GST liability on supply to GST law; requiring duty on DTA clearance to match the exemption availed at import (with depreciation preserved for capital goods and transaction-value treatment for leftover textiles); updating procedural references, replacing obsolete notifications and enactments, extending re-import windows for specified electronics, and revising the B-17 general surety bond for new EOUs while preserving existing bonds.

AEO programme digitization: online Tier 1 filing enabled with concurrent manual submission to ensure transition for traders.
An online web application at aeoindia.gov.in is now available for filing and processing of AEO Tier 1 applications: applicants must register, log in, complete the application form and upload Annexure I and II; Customs officers will process and issue digitized certificates. Manual filing will continue concurrently until 31.03.2019 to ensure transition; users are urged to adopt the online platform.

Re-export authorisations for imported SCOMET items to original supplier or OEM allowed subject to documentary and risk conditions.
Authorisations for re-export or return of imported SCOMET items to the original foreign supplier or OEM are permitted where reasons like obsolescence, order cancellation, or dead-on-arrival are proven; applications must include proof of import, evidence supporting the reason for return, proof of contractual obligation to return, and an undertaking specifying items and SCOMET category. No End Use or End Use Certificate is required, exports to UNSC sanctioned or high risk entities are prohibited, and approvals are granted by the Chairman IMWG and later placed before IMWG for confirmation.

Exhibition exhibits import-export rule permits temporary entry without authorisation when bond or ATA Carnet provided.
Exhibits and construction or decorative materials required for temporary exhibition stands may be imported or exported on a re-export/re-import basis without authorisation upon submission of a bond or security to Customs or an ATA Carnet; items in the 'Prohibited' category or on the SCOMET List are excluded from this facility.

Revision of duty drawback rates updates AIRs to neutralize input duties and prescribes caps with compliance safeguards.
Revision of All Industry Rates (AIRs) of Duty Drawback establishes revised rates effective 19.12.2018 to neutralize customs and specified central excise incidence on inputs, assigns suffixes 'B' (standard) and 'D' (Special Advance Authorization garments), increases or rationalizes rates across multiple sectors, introduces 24 new tariff items, and prescribes caps where necessary. Commissioners must prevent misuse, scrutinize sensitive shipping bills and declaration mismatches, issue guidance, and submit product-specific cap data; exporters may submit representations to the Drawback Committee by 31.12.2018 for supplementary consideration.