Gene therapy classification added; revised 'pre-packaged and labelled' definition narrows retail packaging compliance and obligations.
The notification amends the State GST rate Schedule by inserting S. No. 105A for Gene Therapy and substitutes the Explanation to define 'pre-packaged and labelled' as commodities intended for retail sale, containing not more than twenty-five kilograms or twenty-five litres, that are 'prepacked' under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and whose package or label must bear the declarations required by that Act; the notification is deemed to be effective from an earlier specified date.

Fortified Rice Kernel tax classification updated, adding FRK to specified GST rate lists and clarifying pre-packaging rules.
The notification adds Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) as a tariff entry in the state GST rate schedules-identifying FRK under the lower rate list and alongside items in the mid-rate list-and replaces the Explanation's clause to define 'pre-packaged and labelled' as retail commodities in prepacked containers within the retail packaging threshold that must bear Legal Metrology Act declarations.

Certification requirement for research analysts mandates NISM research analyst initial and renewal exams to maintain compliance.
SEBI mandates that individuals and officers engaged in providing research services-including registered research analysts, principal officers of non-individual research analysts, employed research analysts, associated persons providing research services, and partners of partnership-firm research analysts-must pass the NISM-Series-XV: Research Analyst Certification Examination and, before current certification expires, pass the NISM-Series-XV-B: Research Analyst Certification (Renewal) Examination to maintain compliance.

Employee remuneration investment requirement mandates AMCs to invest part of staff pay in mutual fund units, increasing alignment.
The asset management company must invest a Board specified percentage of designated employees' remuneration in mutual fund units; must conduct Board specified stress testing of schemes and disclose results in the prescribed form and manner; must deploy new fund offer proceeds within a Board specified timeframe; and may pay distribution charges, commissions or fees in the manner specified by the Board.

GST exemption amendment expands electricity and insurance entries, adds NSDC training partners, and updates the definition of insurer.
The Uttar Pradesh GST notification is amended to substitute "transmission or distribution" for "transmission and distribution" in the electricity-related entry, insert a nil-rate entry for insurance services provided by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, and extend the relevant entry to a training partner approved by the National Skill Development Corporation. It also omits item (w) from 1 April 2025 and inserts a definition of "insurer" by reference to the Insurance Act, 1938.

Tariff value fixation updated for edible oils, brass scrap, areca nut, gold and silver, affecting customs valuation and assessment.
The notification substitutes revised tariff value tables in the principal non-tariff customs notification to prescribe tariff values in US dollar terms for specified imported goods, including edible oils, brass scrap, areca nut, and defined forms of gold and silver, with the substituted tables taking effect from a specified date in February 2025 for customs valuation and assessment purposes.

Commencement of GST amendment rules: selected provisions including rule 8, rule 37 and clause (ii) of rule 38 set to commence.
Appoints commencement dates for specified provisions of the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Rules, 2024. It lists Rules 2, 24, 27 and 32 in one group, and Rules 8, 37 and clause (ii) of Rule 38 in a second group; the notification fixes 1 April 2025 as the commencement date for Rules 8, 37 and clause (ii) of Rule 38.

Public consultation requirement in securities rulemaking secures stakeholder input and transparency while permitting expedited action in emergencies.
The Regulations require departmental publication of draft regulations with statutory basis, objectives and comment timelines, mandate a standard public consultation process with publication of compiled comments and departmental responses for Board consideration, and allow the Chairperson to dispense with or shorten consultation in exigent circumstances provided such action is reported to the Board.

Commencement date amendment: substitution of the notified date while the notification is declared effective from the earlier date.
The amendment replaces the date in paragraph 4 of the earlier notification by textual substitution, altering the specified commencement day in that paragraph. The notification further stipulates that it shall come into force from the earlier calendar date originally specified, thereby pairing a substitution of the date in the operative text with an express commencement provision that fixes the temporal operation of the notification.

Defined specified premises under the Uttar Pradesh GST framework through a cross-referenced amendment effective from April 2025.
The Uttar Pradesh GST notification amends the Explanation to the earlier rate notification by substituting item (c) so that "specified premises" takes the meaning assigned in the referenced notification. The amendment functions as a definitional cross-reference within the existing tax framework and is effective from 1 April 2025.

GST notification amendment narrows covered persons by excluding body corporates and composition levy taxpayers from specified entries.
The Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax notification was amended to narrow the classes of persons covered in the specified table entries under the earlier notification issued under section 9(3) of the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. Against serial number 4, the words "other than a body corporate" were inserted after "Any person". Against serial number 5AB, the words "other than a person who has opted to pay tax under composition levy" were inserted after "Any registered person". The amendment was given effect from 16 January 2025.

Specified premises for hotel accommodation service revised with opt-in and opt-out declarations for GST compliance.
The amendment revises the definition of "specified premises" for hotel accommodation service from 1 April 2025 and introduces opt-in and opt-out declaration formats. A premises may qualify through the preceding financial year's supply pattern, or by filing a declaration by a registered supplier or registration applicant within the prescribed period. The declaration applies for the stated financial year and continues for later years unless a contrary declaration is filed, and it must be filed separately for each premises.

GST exemption notification amended to include food inputs for fortified rice kernel supply under approved welfare schemes.
Notification amends the Uttar Pradesh GST notification of 02.11.2017 by inserting, against serial no. 1, a new entry for "food inputs for (a) above" after the existing entry relating to "Fortified Rice Kernel (Premix) supply for ICDS or similar scheme duly approved by the Central Government or any State Government." The amendment is issued under the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 read with the Uttar Pradesh General Clauses Act, 1904, and is stated to have effect from 16.01.2025.

GST rate amendment adds Fortified Rice Kernel and revises the meaning of pre-packaged and labelled goods.
Uttar Pradesh GST rate notifications are further amended to insert Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) in the tariff schedules, including a new entry in Schedule I at 2.5 per cent and inclusion in Schedule III at 9 per cent alongside the existing entry for Murki. The explanation of "pre-packaged and labelled" is substituted to cover retail-sale commodities of not more than 25 kg or 25 litre, pre-packed under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, with required declarations on the package or securely affixed label, and the amendment is given retrospective effect from 16 January 2025.

GST exemption notification amended to substitute the table entry with 9% and apply retrospectively from 16 January 2025.
The Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax exemption notification is amended by substituting the entry in the TABLE against Serial No. 4 in column (4) with "9%". The amendment modifies the existing notification dated 07.03.2018 and is deemed to have come into force with effect from 16.01.2025.

Gene Therapy exemption and revised pre-packaged goods definition reshape the Uttar Pradesh SGST notification framework.
The Uttar Pradesh SGST exemption notification is amended to insert a new Schedule entry for Gene Therapy and to revise the definition of "pre-packaged and labelled" goods. The substituted definition applies to commodities intended for retail sale and containing not more than 25 kg or 25 litre, which are pre-packed under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and required to bear statutory declarations on the package or label. The amendment is deemed to have come into force with effect from 16 January 2025.

Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess change on specified spirit imports distinguishes bourbon whiskey from other goods in tariff headings.
Amendment modifies the exemption table in Notification No. 11/2021-Customs: it substitutes the entry for goods under tariff headings 2204, 2205, 2206 and 2208 (excluding specified tariff items) to set the stated AIDC for all goods other than bourbon whiskey, and inserts a new entry identifying tariff items 2208 30 11 and 2208 30 91 as bourbon whiskey with a distinct AIDC treatment. The notification takes immediate effect.

Re-notification of Special Economic Zone consolidates notified land into a contiguous IT/ITES SEZ, formalising revised plot boundaries.
Re-notification under the second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and rule 8 of the SEZ Rules, 2006, consolidates previously notified parcels into a contiguous sector-specific SEZ for Information Technology and IT-enabled services at Village Ognaj, resulting in a re-notified area of 10.9368 hectares as set out by survey and original plot numbers.

Issue of securities in dematerialised form: private companies given an extended compliance deadline under amended rules.
Amendment to Rule 9B(2) of the Companies (Prospectus and Allotment of Securities) Rules, 2014 permits a private company, other than a Producer company, which was not a small company on the reference date to comply with the sub rule by an extended deadline; the notification declares retrospective effect while stating that no person's interests shall be adversely affected.

Tax exemption under section 10(46A): Real Estate Regulatory Authority Punjab notified as exempt, subject to qualifying purposes.
Notification designates the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Punjab as an assessee eligible for exemption from specified income under clause (46A) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, effective from assessment year 2024-25, conditional on the Authority remaining constituted under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 and retaining one or more qualifying purposes specified in the statute.