Exchange Rate Determination: conversion rates fixed for listed foreign currencies for import and export goods effective in October.
Statutory conversion rates for specified foreign currencies are fixed for the valuation of imported and export goods, effective 4th October, 2013, with separate rupee-equivalent rates for imported goods and export goods set out in Schedule I (per unit) and Schedule II (per one hundred units), and the notification supersedes the earlier exchange rate notification No.100/2013-Customs (N.T.) for future application.

Denotification of bank collection points for VAT/CST alters authorised payment channels and requires updated remittance procedures.
The Department of Trade & Taxes has withdrawn the status of Dena Bank and Bank of Maharashtra as appropriate government treasuries authorised to receive Delhi VAT/CST deposits from dealers, effective 15th October, 2013, and directs departmental circulation, publication, and uploading of revised physical and e-payment procedures to implement the change.

Embassy registration correction: amendment to a VAT notification to correct the Guatemala embassy registration; rest unchanged.
Amendment to a prior Delhi Value Added Tax policy notification directing that the Embassy of Guatemala's registration number be read as the newly specified number in place of the previously published number, while explicitly stating that all other contents of the earlier notification remain unchanged; issued by the Commissioner, Value Added Tax, with departmental circulation for information, publication, website upload and communication to the Embassy.

Exemption for government research goods allows duty-free clearance for scientific instruments and prototypes subject to institutional certification and value limits.
Amendment adds an exemption for Central and State Government departments and laboratories (other than hospitals) covering scientific and technical instruments (including computers), accessories, consumables, software and recorded media, and prototypes, provided the manufacturer produces at clearance a certificate from the head of the institution certifying research-use only and the aggregate value of prototypes received by an institution in a financial year does not exceed a stipulated ceiling.

Engagement of consultants on contract basis: retired central government officers eligible for full time consultant roles under prescribed terms.
Engagement of consultants on contract basis hires retired Central Government servants at Assistant level or above for full time consultancy, with duties equivalent to an Assistant. The scheme requires application on a prescribed proforma and formation of a panel. Terms include an initial one year tenure or until regular incumbents are available, specified working hours with exigency provisions, a limited non cumulative annual leave, government termination on short notice, and a consolidated monthly consultancy fee; administrative circulation and an annexed application form are provided.

Composition scheme amendment: option to withdraw and revised eligibility, rates, and modalities for works contract dealers.
The amendment modifies the composition scheme for works contract dealers by allowing existing opt ins to withdraw from the scheme by filing Form WC 02 for the third quarter, revising composition rates and turnover thresholds, requiring single scheme election per dealer per financial year, and adjusting forfeiture. It updates modalities for opting and switching between Scheme A and B with Form WC 01 and SS 01 obligations for tax on opening stock, permits adjustment of payable amounts against tax credits with refund or carry forward options, and prescribes Form CC 01 procedures and differential TDS treatment between contractor and subcontractor.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment: Show Cause Notice delegated to Commissioner for adjudication under customs notification.
The Board, invoking powers under the notification issued under section 4(1) of the Customs Act, assigns the Show Cause Notice issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in respect of M/s Nikhaar Associates and others to the Commissioner of Central Excise (Adjudication), New Custom House, New Delhi for the purpose of adjudication, thereby designating the Common Adjudicating Authority and transferring responsibility for adjudication to the specified Commissioner.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment transfers a DRI show cause notice for adjudication to a designated customs adjudicating authority.
The Board assigns the DRI show cause notice in the matter of M/s Larsen & Toubro Limited to the Commissioner of Customs (Port-Import), Chennai for adjudication, under the notification issued pursuant to the Customs Act, and circulates the order to specified customs and revenue offices and the department webmaster for information and action.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment: DRI show cause notice transferred to Commissioner of Customs for adjudication.
The Board assigns the Show Cause Notice issued by the Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai Zonal Unit in the matter of M/s Sun TV Network Ltd. to the Commissioner of Customs (Imports & General), IGI Airport, New Delhi for adjudication, identifying the transferee as the Common Adjudicating Authority under the applicable Customs notification and statutory framework.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointment: show cause notice assigned for adjudication to Commissioner of Customs Seaport Import.
A show cause notice issued by the investigating authority is assigned under the statutory notification framework to the Commissioner of Customs, Seaport Import, thereby transferring adjudicatory responsibility and jurisdiction to that office to conduct adjudication, receive responses, and pass orders in respect of the notice.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment: Show Cause Notice transferred for adjudication under the Customs regulatory framework.
The Board assigns the Show Cause Notice issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ahmedabad (F.No.DRI/AZU/INV-13/2011 dated 20.05.2013) in the case of M/s Everflow Petrofils Limited and others to the Commissioner of Customs (Imports), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva, for the purpose of adjudication under Notification No.15/2002-Customs (N.T.), as amended, under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment directs adjudication of a DRI show cause notice by Customs Import Commissioner.
The Board assigns the Show Cause Notice issued by a revenue intelligence unit concerning M/s Action Construction Equipment Ltd. and others to the Commissioner of Customs (Import), New Custom House, Mumbai as the Common Adjudicating Authority for adjudication, pursuant to the statutory notification under the Customs Act; copies are circulated to the issuing unit, specified customs commissioners for information, and the Board's electronic records unit.

Common Adjudicating Authority assignment assigns show cause notice to Commissioner of Customs for adjudication under Customs Act.
The Board assigns Show Cause Notice F.No.DRI/MZU/C/Inv-13/2010-11/17485 to 17497 dated 31.12.2012 issued by the Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai Zonal Unit, in the matter concerning Shri Deepak Yadav and others, to the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Nhava Sheva, for adjudication under the Customs Act, pursuant to Notification No.15/2002-Customs (N.T.). Copies are directed to the issuing DRI office and specified Customs Commissioners for information and necessary action.

Tariff values updated for specified imported commodities, replacing prior tables and fixing customs valuation benchmarks.
Amendment under section 14(2) of the Customs Act substitutes TABLE-1, TABLE-2 and TABLE-3 in Notification No. 36/2001-Customs (N.T.) to fix tariff values for specified imported commodities. TABLE-1 lists US dollar per metric tonne values for edible oils and other goods; TABLE-2 sets benchmark values for gold and silver where certain notification benefits are availed; TABLE-3 records the tariff value for areca nuts unchanged. The substitution establishes regulatory valuation benchmarks for customs import valuation and related procedures.

Registration requirements for stock brokers and clearing members: new procedural, fee and networth obligations under amended regulations.
Registration is mandatory for each stock exchange or clearing corporation in which a person seeks to operate; applications must be submitted on prescribed forms through the relevant stock exchange or clearing corporation and forwarded to the Board within thirty days. The Board may require further information or personal representation, and will consider eligibility, infrastructure, disciplinary history, fit and proper status, certification of associated persons and prescribed minimum networth and deposit requirements before granting a certificate of registration subject to conditions and payment of fees.

Cenvat credit reversal on removal of capital goods: prescribes quarterly straight line percentages and transaction value fallback.
Substitution of sub rule (5A) requires payment where capital goods on which CENVAT credit was taken are removed after use, calculated by straight line quarterly percentage reductions from the date credit was taken: computers and peripherals at 10% per quarter (first year), 8% (second), 5% (third) and 1% (each quarter of fourth and fifth years); other capital goods at 2.5% per quarter. If the computed amount is less than duty on transaction value, duty on transaction value is payable. Clearance as waste or scrap mandates payment equal to duty on transaction value.

Customs route designation expanded to include Nepalgunj Road, altering the list of specified border entry points under the notification.
The Central Government, exercising powers under the Customs Act, substitutes in notification No.208/1977-Customs, paragraph 2(c)(ii) the words "Jaigaon or Moreh" with "Jaigaon, Moreh or Nepalgunj Road," thereby adding Nepalgunj Road to the list of designated routes/points covered by the notification.

Export obligation default interest cap: importer's interest liability limited to duty where default is regularised under DGFT option.
Amendments insert a paragraph into multiple customs miscellaneous exemption notifications providing that where an importer regularises a default in export obligation by paying the duty in accordance with DGFT Public Notice No. 22 (RE-2013)/2009-2014, the amount of interest payable by the importer shall not exceed the amount of the duty paid. The insertions are placed at the specified locations within each listed notification to align customs exemption provisions with the DGFT mechanism for closing export obligation defaults.

Borrowing and lending in foreign exchange: scope expanded to permit entities beyond India subject to regulatory permission.
Amendment inserts "or any other entity as permitted by Reserve Bank" into Regulation 4(2)(i) of the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing or Lending in Foreign Exchange) Regulations, 2000, extending eligibility for borrowing and lending in foreign exchange to entities beyond India where permitted by the Reserve Bank; made under Sections 6(3)(d) and 47(2) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, effective on publication in the Official Gazette.

Tax exemption for grants-in-aid: Meghalaya AIDS Control Society notified subject to non-commerciality, income stability and specified return filing.
Notification under section 10(46) designates the Meghalaya State AIDS Control Society's specified exempt income as amounts received in the form of Grants-in-Aids from the Government of India, effective for financial years 2011-12 through 2015-16, subject to conditions prohibiting commercial activity, requiring unchanged activities and income nature during the year, and mandating return filing under clause (g) of sub-section (4C) of section 139; grants must be received and applied as per prevailing rules and regulations.