In addition to Seven Central Government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 11 State/Private Sector SEZs set-up prior to the enactment of the SEZ Act, 2005, formal approval has been accorded to 565 proposals out of which 388 SEZs have been notified.  Presently, a total of 185 SEZs are exporting. A list showing State-wise distribution of formally approved, notified and operational SEZs is at Annexure. The fiscal concessions and duty benefits allowed to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are inbuilt into the SEZs Act, 2005 and Rules thereunder. These exemptions are uniformly applicable to all SEZs and are in the nature of incentives for export and are consistent with the principles that guide export promotion initiatives of the Government in general. The incentives and facilities offered to the units in SEZs for attracting investments into the SEZs are as under:-

1. Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZs and SEZ units
2. 100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export profit for next 5 years.
3. Exemption from Central Sales Tax.
4. Exemption from Service Tax.
5. Exemption from State sales tax and other levies as extended by the respective State Governments. 

 The contribution of SEZ exports to overall country’s exports and employment generated in SEZs during the last three years are as under:

* calculated on cumulative basis.

** Data source: DGCIS, Kolkata.

The proposals in respect of legislative changes in direct tax laws are considered through the Finance Bill during the Annual Budgetary exercise. The response of the Government in this regard shall be reflected in the form of Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2014. 

The Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ Scheme.

Annexure to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.379 for 11^th July, 2014

The Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZs as also to promote investment in SEZs thereby augmenting growth of employment and SEZ exports.  In order to address the challenges being faced by SEZs, including difficulty in availability of vacant, contiguous land for setting up SEZs, inflexibilities in definition of Sector leading to non-optimal utilization of land etc, certain amendments have been carried out in the SEZ Rules, 2006 vide G.S.R. No. 540(E) dated 12th August, 2013.

The information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha today.