Export restriction on raw cotton removed; ITC HS export classification entry deleted, enabling exports under standard trade rules.
The export restriction on raw cotton is removed by deleting the raw cotton entry at code No.5201 from Table B of Schedule 2 and S.No.18 of Appendix 1 to Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Classification, thereby amending the export classification framework to permit export of raw cotton under the ITC(HS) schedules.

Research institution approval under section 35(1)(ii) requires annual scientific returns, audited research accounts, and separate books.
Marathwada Medical and Research Institute, Aurangabad, is approved as an institution under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Income-tax Act for 1-4-2000 to 31-3-2003, subject to maintaining separate research books, furnishing an annual scientific research return to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research by 31 May, and submitting audited annual accounts and audited research income and expenditure accounts to the designated income-tax exemption authorities and the Department by 31 October each year.

Research institution approval requires separate research accounts and annual audited submissions to claim tax-related exemption.
Approval is granted to an institution for research-related tax exemption subject to compliance: maintain separate books for research activities; furnish an annual return of scientific research activities to the designated research department by the annual deadline; and submit audited annual accounts and audited income and expenditure accounts for research activities to specified tax and research authorities by the stated annual due date, in addition to its tax return. The institution must apply in triplicate and in advance for renewal of approval through the relevant tax authority and send copies to the research department.

Deemed Cenvat credit fixed per square meter for textile inputs, usable only against corresponding excise liabilities, non-refundable.
Declaration establishes a deemed duty per square meter on specified processed textile inputs and allows credit of that deemed duty to manufacturers of Chapter 59 final products. The credit is usable solely against corresponding excise or additional excise liabilities, is non-refundable, and is available only where inputs are received directly from the input manufacturer under an invoice declaring excise paid in compliance with rule 15.

Deemed Cenvat Credit allowed on specified apparel inputs, permitting credit without documents and subject to utilization and exclusions.
The notification declares specified fabrics and ancillary inputs as declared inputs for apparel under Chapter 62 and deems duty on those inputs to have been paid, allowing a deemed Cenvat credit to the manufacturer without production of payment documents. The credit is to be utilized toward excise duty on the final products, with provisions for use in respect of exports under bond or refund where adjustment is not possible, and exclusions for manufacturers availing rule 3 credit or where duty has been evaded.

Deemed CENVAT credit for textile inputs set; fixed credit allowed at clearance with limited utilisation and exclusions.
The notification declares specified textile inputs and corresponding final products as declared inputs for deemed CENVAT credit, prescribes fixed deemed credit rates differing between composite mills and other manufacturers, deems duty to have been paid on such inputs and allows credit at clearance without production of duty payment documents, restricts utilisation of credit to payment of excise duties on the final products with limited refund provisions, and sets exclusions including manufacturers availing regular CENVAT credit, special procedure payers, and cases involving fraud or short levy.

Deemed Cenvat Credit rate fixed for specified textile inputs, allowing restricted duty credit on clearance of final fabric products.
Declares specified textile inputs and corresponding final products produced by composite mills and deems a fixed duty per kilogram to have been paid on those inputs when purchased by the manufacturer; allows credit of that deemed duty without production of payment documents at clearance, restricts utilisation to excise on the final products, permits export/home-consumption adjustments or refund subject to safeguards, and excludes cases of clandestine removal or fraud. Clarifies deemed credit applies notwithstanding actual duty paid and defines "composite mill".

Rule substitution in central excise notifications: references updated to new procedural and CENVAT frameworks ensuring aligned compliance.
Direct substitutions update multiple Central Excise notifications by replacing references to the Central Excise Rules, 1944 with provisions of the Central Excise (No.2) Rules, 2001, the Central Excise (Removal of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rules, 2001 and the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2001; explanatory clauses and annexure conditions are amended to require compliance with the procedures of the new rules and to exclude duty paid by utilisation of CENVAT credit from certain account-current references.

Anti-dumping duty on Hexamine imposed for imports from specified countries, with rates and exchange rules governing payment.
Anti-dumping duty is imposed on Hexamine (sub heading 2921.29) from Saudi Arabia and Russia after preliminary findings of dumping, injury and causation; country-wise per kilogramme duty rates are specified. The duty is effective until the stated terminal date and payable in Indian currency, with the applicable rate of exchange being that notified by the Department of Revenue and determined as of the date of presentation of the bill of entry under section 46 of the Customs Act.

Safeguard duty on phenol continued, imposing time-limited import measures with tariff rates and conditional exemptions.
The Central Government imposed a temporary safeguard duty on imports of phenol after findings that increased imports continued to threaten serious injury to domestic producers, prescribing a higher duty in the first year and a lower duty in the second year. The notification includes exemptions for phenol imported under specified quantity and annual based Advance Licences subject to non transferable and actual user conditions, and exempts imports from developing countries except specified exceptions; it invokes the statutory safeguard framework and implementing rules.

Anti-dumping duty imposed on imported acrylic fibre from specified countries, enforcing tariff-based remedial measures on imports.
The Central Government imposed anti-dumping duty on acrylic fibre imports from the United States, Korea RP and Thailand following Designated Authority findings of dumped exports causing material injury; specified exporter- and country-specific duty rates are set, duties are payable in Indian currency using the government-notified rate of exchange determined on the bill-of-entry date, and the notification supersedes the earlier June 2000 notification and remains effective until the stated expiry unless revoked or extended.

Option to pay excise duty on notified basis with conditions; returned goods require CENVAT repayment or duty payment.
The amendment empowers the Central Government to notify an option to pay the duty for specified goods allowing assessees to pay duty on notified factors and rates subject to conditions, interest and penalty. It also provides that if processes on returned goods do not amount to manufacture the manufacturer must repay the CENVAT credit taken; otherwise duty is payable on returned goods at the applicable rate and on valuation determined under the Act.

Central Excise Stamps procedure: rules for procurement, custody, affixation, accounting and duty payment on matches enforced.
This notification prescribes procedures for procurement, custody, accounting and disposal of Central Excise Stamps for matches, allowing purchase from district treasuries by cash challan or, on execution of a bond and security, on credit with limits tied to average factory out turn; it mandates secure storage, stock accounts, monthly returns, inspection and immediate treasury payment for unaccounted stamps, and sets rules for affixing, packing, labelling, export handling and removal conditional on payment or debit to account.

Machine-based excise levy option lets manufacturers discharge duty monthly per cold rolling machine under specified procedural conditions.
The notification provides an option for manufacturers of cold-rolled stainless steel pattis/pattas and aluminium circles to discharge excise liability by paying a prescribed monthly sum per cold rolling machine, with rates differentiated by product and roller length, payment tendered with the application and calculated on the maximum machines installed during the three months preceding the application; CENVAT credit on such duty is disallowed and payments are subject to recalculation, pro-rata treatment for initial months, provisional assessment for new or resumed factories, reconciliation, and penalties for non-compliance.

Excise duty on embroidery: option to discharge liability by per machine meter per shift payment subject to CENVAT denial and compliance.
Manufacturers of embroidery on specified fabrics may opt to discharge excise liability by paying duty based on the meter length of each embroidery machine per shift at the prescribed rate; this option is available subject to an application process, prohibition on taking CENVAT credit for inputs and capital goods used in such embroidery, pre shift payment into an account current, and compliance with prescribed recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Excise duty procedure: fixed monthly chamber-based duty for independent textile processors using hot-air stenters.
Special excise duty regime for processed textile fabrics by an independent textile processor using hot-air stenters: eligibility requires exclusive use of hot-air stenters, application to the Commissioner, certification of original plant and machinery value within a prescribed ceiling, and exclusion from CENVAT credit. Duty is charged per chamber per stenter per month under two value-based tiers with chamber measurement and pro rata rules; average value is computed from prior year clearances or applicant declaration with year-end adjustment. Compliance obligations include records, monthly returns, two-part monthly payments, declaration of investments, and penalties, with a conditioned abatement process for complete factory closure.

Approval under section 10(23G) for a Kasargod power project, conditional on compliance, audited accounts and furnishing audit report.
Approval is granted to Kasargod Power Corporation Pvt. Ltd.'s Kasargod power project for the purposes of section 10(23G) read with rule 2E, subject to compliance with those provisions. The approval is conditional on maintaining books of account, obtaining an audit by an accountant as required by sub rule (7) of rule 2E, and furnishing the audit report; the Central Government may withdraw approval if the undertaking ceases to carry on an infrastructure facility or fails the accounting or reporting requirements.

Research institution approval under section 35 requires separate research accounts and annual audited reporting to tax and research authorities.
Approval as an institution for research-related tax relief under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 is conditional on maintaining separate books for research activities, filing an annual scientific research return to the designated research department by the prescribed date, and submitting audited annual accounts and audited income-and-expenditure statements for research activities to the specified tax and research authorities annually; renewal requires advance triplicate application through the jurisdictional tax exemptions office with copies to the research department.

Approval under section 10(23G) permits tax-favoured status for telecom infrastructure projects subject to compliance and audit conditions.
Approval under Section 10(23G) grants tax-favoured status to Reliance Communication Pvt. Ltd.'s National Long Distance Service project for specified assessment years, conditional on conformity with the Income-tax Act and Rules, execution of the required Department of Telecommunication licence agreement, and continued operation; the Central Government may withdraw approval if the enterprise ceases the infrastructure facility, fails to maintain audited books as required, or fails to furnish the prescribed audit report.

Approval under section 10(23G) grants tax-exempt status to specified housing projects, subject to compliance and audit conditions.
Approval under section 10(23G) recognises Dinshaw Trapinex Builders Private Limited's development of specified housing projects in Andheri and Goregaon as approved enterprises for specified assessment years, subject to compliance with section 10(23G) and rule 2E. The approval is conditional on maintaining books of account, obtaining the audit required by rule 2E(7), and furnishing the audit report; the Central Government may withdraw approval if the enterprise ceases to provide the infrastructure facility or fails to meet the accounting and audit requirements.