Anti-dumping duty measures on solar PV imports may be imposed following investigation into dumped pricing and injury to industry.
Pursuant to an application by the Solar Manufacturers Association, the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties initiated an investigation into imports of solar cells and modules from Malaysia, China PR, Chinese Taipei and the United States to determine existence and degree of dumping, assess injury to the domestic industry, and recommend anti-dumping duties; opposing representations will be considered by DGAD under the Antidumping Rules.

Export promotion measures show modest volume growth but a decline in dollar value for marine products in recent years.
The authority established in 1972 to promote marine product exports has implemented schemes (details in annexure) and reports export statistics showing a small increase in quantity, an increase in domestic-currency value, and a decline in dollar-denominated value for the latest reporting period; the most recent figures are provisional.

Foreign exchange reserves policy: central bank intervention stabilises currency and reserves amid valuation shifts and capital flows.
The press release reports the composition and levels of foreign exchange reserves and attributes those levels to central bank intervention to smooth exchange rate volatility, valuation effects from US dollar movements, and inflows including aid receipts; it further explains that rising import bills are typically financed by export earnings, invisible receipts and capital flows.

Foreign exchange reserves depend on central bank intervention to stabilise rates and on external receipts supporting financing.
Reserve levels are attributed principally to Reserve Bank intervention in the foreign exchange market to smoothen exchange rate volatility, valuation changes from US dollar movements against other currencies, and inflows such as aid receipts; concurrent financing of the import bill through export earnings, invisible receipts and capital flows supports reserve adequacy.

Support to textiles assured with investment zones approved and central assistance for plantation and manufacturing encouraged.
Minister assured central support for textiles, plantation and manufacturing after reviews covering the National Manufacturing Policy, FDI regime changes, SEZ policy revisions and related initiatives. He announced in principle approval for three National Manufacturing and Investment Zones and urged states to expedite their establishment. The Centre committed assistance to the Tirupur textile industry and textile workers, noted expansion of the Integrated Textile Parks Scheme to 61 parks, informed Andhra Pradesh of upcoming design and footwear institutes, and promised full assistance for plantation sector concerns.

Industry review in southern states prompts ministerial visit and meetings to assess sectoral schemes and export recognition.
Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles visits Kerala for a two-day intergovernmental review of commerce, industry and textile issues in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, focusing on plantation, textiles, manufacturing and progress of relevant schemes; the programme includes a bilateral review with the Chief Minister of Kerala and presentation of Spice Export Awards.

Extension of Form ST-3 submission deadline under Service Tax Rules to accommodate ACES availability and filing delay.
The Central Board of Excise & Customs, invoking sub-rule(4) of rule 7 of the Service Tax Rules, 1994, extended the filing deadline for Form ST-3 for the stated half-year because the form was not expected to be available on the ACES electronic platform, thereby postponing the compliance timeline until the form's availability.

Export promotion measures boost incentives, streamline duty credit use and reform SEZ norms to enhance competitiveness and market access.
The supplement consolidates export promotion measures by extending and merging the Zero Duty EPCG scheme with the standard EPCG, broadening eligibility for interest subvention and incremental export incentives, expanding Focus Market/Product lists, and enhancing flexibility in Duty Credit Scrips use and transferability. It introduces one time closure relief for legacy authorisations, simplifies documentation via mandatory electronic BRCs and reduced shipping bill submissions, and announces SEZ reforms including reduced land and built up area norms, graded land criteria, sectoral broad banding and transferability of unit ownership to spur investment and regional export growth.

SEZ land requirement reduction expands sector eligibility and permits unit transferability boosting export facilitation.
Regulatory amendments reduce SEZ land and built up thresholds, permit graded sector eligibility and transferability of SEZ units, harmonise EPCG into a single Zero Duty EPCG Scheme with defined export obligations and import timelines, and provide EO reductions for domestic capital goods sourcing and specified regions. Duty credit scrip usage is widened to cover service tax and certain DGFT fees; SFIS entitlements are tied to net foreign exchange and allowed for capital goods and specified tourism purpose vehicles; and electronic systems (e BRC, online EODC, message exchange) plus documentation simplifications are instituted to expedite export facilitation.

Minimum Alternate Tax applicability extended to SEZ developers and units, keeping book profits within alternate corporate tax charge.
MAT has been extended to Special Economic Zone developers and units effective 1 April 2012, bringing their book profits within the corporate alternative minimum tax regime; a government review proposal was considered but no decision to reconsider MAT applicability to SEZs has been taken.

Export promotion: industry government recommendations on manufacturing and trade pressures were incorporated into the foreign trade policy supplement.
Selected recommendations from Government industry consultations on manufacturing constraints (raw materials, power, infrastructure, cost of credit) and export pressures (Euro zone crisis, export slowdown, widening trade deficit) were examined and, subject to fiscal and economic considerations, some suggestions were incorporated into the Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy announced in April 2013.

Accreditation under NPOP: lists accredited government and private certification bodies and reports operator registration counts.
Accreditation under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) lists seven government certification bodies and seventeen private certification bodies as accredited, and notes no accredited body in Uttar Pradesh. It reports counts of registered operators issued Scope Certificates over the last three years and a partial current-year figure, while stating that state-wise registration data is not maintained.

Trade balance monitoring drives export promotion strategy to retain markets, move up value chains and diversify exports.
The Government regards the trade balance-the difference between exports and imports-as a central macroeconomic indicator tied to current account stability and economic growth, and therefore actively monitors trade and current account metrics. Policy focuses on export promotion for high value manufacturing goods by retaining presence in traditional markets, upgrading value chains in developed markets, and diversifying into new markets and products.

Export incentive reform expands EPCG benefits, broadens duty credit scrip use and eases SEZ norms to spur value added exports.
The Annual Supplement revises export promotion instruments and SEZ rules to boost employment intensive and value added exports. It extends and merges the Zero Duty EPCG facility with the EPCG framework, simplifies obligations and timelines, incentivises domestic procurement of capital goods, broadens market and product incentive coverage, liberalises duty credit scrip utilisation and transferability, restores uniform VKGUY benefits, and relaxes SEZ land and built up area norms while permitting transfer of unit ownership and other procedural simplifications.

SEZ liberalisation and Zero Duty EPCG unify entry, transferability and export obligation rules to boost exports and facilitation.
Reduction of SEZ minimum land thresholds with a graded land scale, sectoral broad banding and eligibility of additions to pre existing structures for duty benefits; removal of minimum land requirement and relaxation of built up area norms for IT/ITES SEZs; introduction of a unified Zero Duty EPCG covering all sectors with defined export obligations and import periods; expanded use and limited transferability of duty credit scrips and SFIS entitlements; electronic transmission of export realization (e BRC) and online EODC to streamline reconciliation and reduce transaction costs.

VAT return reform: revised online returns require annexed dealer summaries and debit/credit note reporting, increasing reconciliation obligations.
Revised DVAT returns require online filing of Form DVAT 16 (non composition dealers) and Form DVAT 17 (composition dealers) with annexures; Form DVAT 16 adds Annexure 2C (entry wise debit/credit notes for purchases) and Annexure 2D (entry wise debit/credit notes for sales). Main returns must report rate wise turnover, net tax after input/output adjustments, payment details including TDS, and verification. Annexures 2A and 2B provide quarter wise dealer wise summaries of purchases and sales, and all annexure aggregates must reconcile with the main return to enable cross verification of input and output tax.

Statutory body-led production of SPF broodstock expands domestic hatchery supply and reduces reliance on imports for aquaculture.
RGCA, as the R&D arm of the statutory Marine Products Export Development Authority, has produced Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock domestically in collaboration with the Oceanic Institute. The project supplies selectively bred broodstock to approved hatcheries at lower cost than imports, aims to improve seed quality, reduce import dependence and transportation losses, expand domestic broodstock capacity, and support increased shrimp production and export through affordable, higher-performance seed for small and marginal farmers.

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement negotiations begin as India and Eurasian Economic Commission agree to form a Joint Study Group.
Negotiations to initiate a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between India and the Customs Union (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation) were agreed in principle, and the parties agreed to establish a Joint Study Group to define Terms of Reference, composition and timelines for a report to inform and structure potential negotiations and intergovernmental consultations.

Foreign Trade Policy supplement to address export support and current account deficit concerns forthcoming.
An Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy will provide measures to bolster exports in response to the current account deficit; it is being finalised after inter ministerial coordination between the commerce and finance ministries and consultations with industry stakeholders, and is intended to address immediate exporter constraints and medium term competitiveness.

Trade facilitation: CBEC and designated bank counters to remain open and strike withdrawal ensures uninterrupted tax acceptance and clearances.
Directive mandates CBEC offices to remain open on 29th-31st March, 2013 with normal hours; designated agency bank branches and RBI counters conducting government business will keep counters open and provide e-payment infrastructure for tax acceptance. The proposed nationwide strike by Associations of Superintendents and Inspectors of Central Excise for those dates has been withdrawn, and additional staff including IRS (Customs & Central Excise) probationers have been deployed to ensure uninterrupted clearances and trade facilitation.