Special Economic Zone incentives stay uniform; de-notification requires duty repayment and state NOC, MAT and DDT exemptions denied.
SEZ fiscal concessions and duty exemptions arise from the SEZ Act, 2005 and Rules, 2006 and apply uniformly as export incentives. The Board of Approval has de-notified/cancelled several notified and in principle SEZs for inadequate developer progress; de-notification is subject to payment of applicable duties and tax benefits availed and receipt of a State No Objection Certificate. Requests to restore exemptions from Minimum Alternate Tax and Dividend Distribution Tax were recommended by Commerce but not accepted by Finance.

Results Based Lending supports state skill program, linking disbursement to measurable training and program management outcomes.
A $100 million loan to Kerala's Additional Skill Acquisition Program was agreed under Results Based Lending, linking disbursement to outputs including market relevant vocational training, expanded access to quality training, increased private sector participation, and improved program management and monitoring. Complementary $1.5 million technical assistance was provided for capacity building, and ASAP's implementation relies on collaboration with industry and sector skills councils for curriculum, internships and placements.

Sanitation fund mobilises philanthropic and CSR contributions to finance prioritized toilet construction, hygiene, and waste management projects.
The Swachh Bharat Kosh channels philanthropic and CSR contributions into a single bank account to finance prioritized sanitation activities-construction and renovation of toilets, water supply, hygiene training, and waste management. A Governing Council, supported by a Secretariat and an Administrator, approves and prioritises projects proposed by line Ministries and states; implementation uses existing institutions and costing follows prevailing Centrally Sponsored Scheme norms. Monitoring requires quarterly progress reports to the Governing Council and Finance Minister; quarterly internal audit by the Chief Controller of Accounts and an annual statutory audit by auditors appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General ensure financial accountability.

Public debt management adjustments reduced auction sizes and used repurchases to manage cash and liquidity conditions.
The quarterly report details issuance and repurchase operations for July-September 2014, including a strategy of re issues to build secondary market liquidity, emergence of one new 10 year benchmark, reductions in auctions based on the Government's cash position, and targeted repurchases to utilize surplus cash. It describes the debt composition and maturity profile-highlighting internal debt and marketable securities dominance, a limited share of short residual maturities and consequently low rollover risk-and notes comfortable liquidity conditions with occasional recourse to Ways and Means Advances.

Official Development Assistance loan commitment enables construction of urban sewerage infrastructure and strengthens bilateral development cooperation.
Official Development Assistance loan commitment from Japan to India for the Guwahati Sewerage Project effected by an Exchange of Notes between designated government officials, confirming JICA financing for urban sewerage infrastructure and reflecting continuation of bilateral development cooperation and strategic partnership.

Exchange rate notification fixes official currency conversion rates for import and export valuation under customs rules.
Determination of rates of exchange for conversion between specified foreign currencies and Indian rupees, prescribing separate rupee conversion rates for imported goods and for export goods through two annexed schedules, and superseding the immediately preceding notification, with prospective application except as to past actions.

National Pension System expansion: state adoption and regulatory strengthening to protect subscriber interests through new regulations and measures
The PFRDA reports marked expansion of the National Pension System with increased subscriber numbers and state adoption, and, following the PFRDA Act, has statutory authority to develop the pension sector and frame regulations. PFRDA is preparing regulations focused on fund management, grievance handling and risk mitigation, directing State Nodal offices to maintain accurate subscriber records and to synchronise information and funds. The shift to a Defined Contribution model centralises subscriber interest and requires coordinated regulatory oversight, operational innovation and stakeholder feedback to safeguard subscribers through entry, accumulation and exit.

Quarterly performance review of public sector banks to assess credit growth, asset quality and financial inclusion measures.
Secretary, Department of Financial Services will hold a quarterly review with chief executives of public sector banks and financial institutions focusing on overall credit growth-notably agriculture, MSE, housing, education and lending to minorities and weaker sections-and on capital adequacy, non performing assets, recovery, stalled/new projects, financial inclusion, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer and Unique Identification interface.

Advance payment of income tax encouraged; use authorised bank branches or online channels to avoid year end congestion.
An appeal urging advance remittance of income tax dues before the due date and recommending use of authorised agency banks or their online payment facilities to avoid long queues and year end congestion; the notice notes heavy year end pressure on receipt issuance and that additional counters are provided when possible.

Appointment of Alternate Governor: Finance Secretary named India's representative on the Asian Development Bank's Board of Governors.
The central government designated the serving Finance Secretary as India's Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank, replacing the prior incumbent and conferring responsibility as India's alternate voting and policy representative in the Bank's highest governance body.

Appointment of Alternate Governor: India designated its finance secretary to represent it on African Development Bank boards.
The Government designated the Finance Secretary as India's Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank and African Development Fund, effective in late October 2014, replacing the prior officeholder and thereby assigning India's representation rights and duties on those Boards.

Swavalamban pension inclusion urged banks to mobilise accounts through PMJDY integration and aggregator outreach rapidly.
Banks were urged to treat the Swavalamban initiative as a mission-mode programme, leveraging branch networks, human resources and customer databases to open targeted accounts and achieve stipulated enrollment goals. Aggregators including Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, MFIs and NBFCs are identified as critical implementing partners to expand outreach into MSME, agricultural and rural segments and the unorganised workforce, with integration into the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and a Government co-contribution incentive to eligible accounts.

Domestic savings: government urges investing in relaunched Kisan Vikas Patra as safe small savings alternative to Ponzi schemes.
The government urges increased domestic savings by promoting safe, simple, and accessible Government small savings schemes as secure alternatives to privately run Ponzi schemes, announces the re-launch of the Kisan Vikas Patra to attract small savers, and plans initial operation through the postal network with later extension to banks to advance financial inclusion and mobilise funds for development.

Infrastructure collaboration platform facilitates U.S. industry participation in Indian infrastructure projects to enhance bilateral commercial ties.
A bilateral Memorandum of Understanding establishes an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform to coordinate government cooperation to facilitate U.S. industry participation in Indian infrastructure projects, aiming to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and deliver mutual economic benefits; it was signed by the Department of Economic Affairs for India and the U.S. Department of Commerce, with multiple Indian infrastructure ministries participating to enable inter-ministerial coordination and project facilitation.

Tariff value revised for specified imports, substituting customs notification tables and updating import valuation standards.
Exercise of Sub-section (2) of Section 14 powers amends Notification No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.) by substituting TABLE-1, TABLE-2 and TABLE-3 to prescribe commodity-specific tariff values in US dollars per metric tonne (and per unit for gold and silver) for customs valuation of specified imports including palm oil and derivatives, crude soya bean oil, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nuts, and precious metals where certain notification benefits are availed.

Taxpayer services promoted to expand e-filing access, enable Form 26AS viewing, PAN applications, and public tax awareness.
The Taxpayers' Lounge showcases operational taxpayer services to improve compliance and access: e-filing of returns, viewing tax credit via Form 26AS, PAN application facilities, and services of Tax Return Preparers. The Lounge aligns these service offerings with public-policy themes-women entrepreneurs, Make in India, and Swachh Bharat-while organising outreach and educational activities for youth to build taxpayer awareness and familiarity with filing and credit verification processes.

Financial inclusion: banks to run IEC, complete Aadhaar seeding, issue RuPay cards and finish household surveys.
PMJDY directives require banks to run an Information and Education Campaign, expedite issuance of RuPay debit cards, use e KYC for account opening, complete Aadhaar seeding and finish remaining household surveys; DFS also mandated State involvement, preparedness for a modified DBTL linkage and communicated a reward scheme for bankers to incentivise implementation.

Senior government appointment: new Secretary installed for Department of Financial Services while predecessor is reassigned to a national chemical weapons body.
Senior government appointment: Shri Hasmukh Adhia, IAS, assumed charge as Secretary of the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance, succeeding the prior incumbent who has been reassigned to chair a national authority on chemical weapons convention matters, effecting an administrative reallocation of senior civil service roles.

Customs exchange rates updated, establishing distinct import and export conversion rates effective in early November.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs, exercising authority under the Customs Act, determines specific foreign exchange conversion rates for customs valuation of imported and export goods, superseding the prior notification and effective 6 November 2014. The determination provides distinct import and export conversion figures in Schedule I and lists per 100 unit rates in Schedule II; those published schedules are the operative rates for customs valuation and related compliance for the named currencies.

Tariff value adjustment for specified edible oils, metal scrap, seeds, nuts, and precious metals alters customs valuation consequences.
Amendment under the Customs Act substitutes TABLE-1, TABLE-2 and TABLE-3 of Notification No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.) with revised tariff values in US dollars for specified goods, including categories of palm oil and palmolein, crude soybean oil, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nuts, and prescribed unit values for gold and silver when certain notification benefits are availed.