Specified securities under section 80L: taxable secured redeemable non-convertible bonds designated for deduction eligibility.
Central Government specifies three tranches of taxable secured redeemable non-convertible bonds issued by Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited as specified securities under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of Section 80L of the Income-tax Act, 1961, identifying each tranche by interest rate, distinctive serial number ranges and aggregate issue amounts, thereby placing those instruments within the statutory category for the purposes of the clause.

Expansion of exempted repair activities to include testing, calibration and maintenance, widening customs exemption scope.
The notification amends an existing customs exemption to add testing, calibration and maintenance (including service) to the list of eligible activities alongside repairs, reconditioning and reengineering, substituting the extended terminology in both the opening portion and condition (b) so that goods returned after such processes are described by the expanded terms for purposes of the exemption.

Minority communities recognition designates Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians under an income tax provision for tax purposes.
Designation of specified religious groups as minority communities under the Explanation to clause (26BB) of the Income tax Act: by Notification No. S.O.613(E) dated 5-7-1995 the Central Government declares Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) to be the minority communities for the purposes of that provision.

Notification of articles and things confirms inclusion of software and other items, excluding scheduled items under the tax provision.
Central Government notification designates as articles and things, explicitly including computer software, all articles and things other than those specified in the Eleventh Schedule for the purposes of the explanatory clause linked to the tax-exempt receipts provision, thereby identifying the class of items covered and excluding scheduled items from that designation.

Duty free export procedure enables excisable goods to Nepal for specified embassy and project use subject to certification and prescribed export formalities.
Permission is granted to export excisable goods to specified Government of India Aided Projects and the Embassy of India stores in Nepal without payment of excise duty, subject to certification by the First Secretary (Economic) of the Embassy and compliance with a prescribed special procedure. The procedure requires six-copy invoices with a non diversion declaration, presentation of five copies and the project order to the Central Excise officer, transmission of specified copies with the consignment to land customs, customs certification of export, and verification by the bond accepting officer on receipt of the duplicate invoice to discharge bond liabilities.

Rescission of notification withdraws tariff values for specified polyester filament yarns under central excise authority.
The central government, exercising statutory power under the Central Excises and Salt Act, rescinds the earlier Department of Revenue notification that fixed tariff values for specified polyester filament yarns, withdrawing that tariff-value determination as being necessary in the public interest.

Excise duty exemption for donated goods enables tax free supply to earthquake relief agencies subject to certification and documentary proof.
Exemption from excise duty is granted for goods donated or purchased out of cash donations for relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims in Maharashtra and Karnataka, subject to conditions: manufacturer certification on clearance documents; direct dispatch to the Central or State Governments or approved relief agencies; and production to the Central Excise officer, within three months or any allowed extension, of a District Magistrate's certificate confirming donation.

Customs exemption expanded to include computers, software, CD ROMs, microforms and spare parts for research institution imports.
The amendment broadens customs exemptions for research institutions by substituting notification text to include computers within "apparatus and equipments," and by expressly adding computer-software, CD ROM, microfilm and microfiches while excluding consumable items; spare parts are clarified to include those for computers.

Specification of projects under section 35AC extends eligibility for specified Manav Seva Pratishthan schemes for a further period.
The Central Government specifies five projects carried out by Manav Seva Pratishthan as eligible projects or schemes for a further assessment-period term, encompassing construction of hostels, water facilities, primary school buildings, a medical clinic, and recurring expenses for schools and homoeopathic clinics. The extension is based on a National Committee recommendation that the projects are being executed properly and is conditional on continuation without change in the approved cost.

Designation change: substitution of Collector titles with Commissioner equivalents in Central Excise notifications under Central Excise Rules effecting designation updates.
Amendment notification substitutes references to "Collector of Central Excise", "Collector of Customs", and "Assistant Collector of Central Excise" with "Commissioner of Central Excise", "Commissioner of Customs", and "Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise" respectively, effected under the Central Excises & Salt Act, 1944 and rule 4 of the Central Excise Rules, 1944.

Customs duty reduction on dried vegetables caps import duty at a set ad valorem rate, limiting excess liability.
Exemption from customs duty is granted for imported dried vegetables by limiting the duty payable to the ad valorem rate stated in the Notification where the standard rate applies, and likewise capping liability at the stated ad valorem preferential rate where preferential duty is leviable, thereby exempting duty in excess of those rates.

Input credit rules amended: scope, valuation and time limit for credit claims clarified and home consumption duty tied to credit.
Rule 57A now treats goods used in or in relation to manufacture as inputs whether used directly or indirectly and whether contained in the final product or not, and includes accessories cleared with the final product when their value is part of the assessable value. Rule 57F links duty on removal for home consumption to the amount of input credit availed. Rule 57G bars taking credit after six months from issuance of specified documents.

Exchange rate determination for export goods sets prescribed foreign-to-rupee conversion rates and supersedes prior notification.
The notification prescribes official exchange rates for conversion between specified foreign currencies and Indian rupees for export goods, superseding the earlier notification and fixing the applicable rates as listed in two appended Schedules to govern export-related customs conversion and valuation from the stated commencement date.

Exchange Rate Determination: fixes conversion rates for specified foreign currencies for customs and stamp duty purposes.
Prescribes exchange rates for conversion between specified foreign currencies and Indian rupees for purposes of the Indian Stamp Act and the Customs Act, superseding the prior notification and making the listed rates operative from the stated commencement date. Two schedules are appended: Schedule I gives rates per one unit of foreign currency and Schedule II gives rates per one hundred units, to be applied for stamp duty calculation and for section 14 Customs Act determinations relating to imported goods.

Authority title change: Service Tax Rules amended to replace Collector of Central Excise with Commissioner in appeals references.
The Service Tax (Amendment) Rules, 1995 substitute references to the office title throughout the Service Tax Rules, 1994: rule 8 replaces "Collector of Central Excise (Appeals)" with "Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals)"; rule 9(2)(b) replaces both occurrences of "Collector of Central Excise" and the occurrence of "Collector of Central Excise (Appeals)" with the corresponding "Commissioner" formulations; and the notes to form ST-7 make identical substitutions.

Exemption under section 35AC extended for rehabilitation scheme after National Committee recommendation, enabling continued tax-eligible status.
Central Government specifies the Rehabilitation Centre for handicapped carried out by Manovikas Kendra, Calcutta, as an eligible project for income-tax exemption for a further period of three years commencing from the assessment year 1996-97, following the National Committee's recommendation and without change in the approved cost.

Exemption under section 35AC extended to school construction and furniture project, enabling continued eligibility for further assessment years.
The Central Government specifies the construction of and provision of furniture in Sharadabai Pawar Vidhya Niketan School at Sharadanagar, Baramati, Pune, executed by Baramati Agricultural Development Trust, as an eligible project for tax exemption; the National Committee recommended, having found proper execution, that the project be specified for a further three assessment years commencing from the assessment year 1996-97, thereby extending its eligibility period.

Exemption under section 35AC extended for construction of sports complex as eligible project for further assessment year
The Central Government, acting under the Explanation to section 35AC and on the National Committee's recommendation that the project is being executed properly, specifies the construction of the sports complex at Chas Kaman Lake Residential School by Krishnamurti Foundation India as an eligible project for a further one-year period in relation to the assessment year 1996-97, without change in the approved cost.

Exemption under section 35AC extended for specified rural development projects, preserving continued tax-eligibility following committee recommendation.
Central Government, exercising powers under clause (b) of the Explanation to section 35AC of the Income-tax Act, specified PYOH II US Aid; construction of low-cost houses; Jaipur District Rural Health Project; and poultry raising and garment making for rural women carried out by Jaipur Rural Health and Development Trust as eligible projects for a further three assessment years commencing from assessment year 1996-97, on the National Committee's recommendation under sub-rule (5) of rule 11M, without change in the approved cost.

Exemption under section 35AC: extension of eligibility for specified school, hostel and training project for tax benefit.
The Central Government specifies that the construction of a school building, hostel for mothers of handicapped children and a training programme at Saraswathipuram, Mysore by Parents Association of Deaf Children are eligible projects or schemes under the Explanation to section 35AC of the Income tax Act; on recommendation of the National Committee and without change in the approved cost, the specification is extended for a further three assessment years commencing from assessment year 1996 97.