Export restriction for Muriate of Potash: exports allowed only under licence under the Foreign Trade Policy.
A new ITC(HS) entry (Item Code 3104) adds Muriate of Potash (MOP) under "Fertilisers" in Table B of Schedule 2 and classifies it as Restricted; export of MOP is permitted only under licence pursuant to the Foreign Trade Policy and the authority granted by the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act.

SEZ import duty exemption allows developers to import goods duty-free subject to authorization, storage, reporting and bond.
Exemption for goods imported into or procured for development, operation and maintenance of a Special Economic Zone relieves such goods from customs duty under the Customs Tariff Act and additional duty under section 3, conditional upon Development Commissioner permission, Committee authorisation, storage in licensed warehouses, maintenance of accounts with quarterly statements to the Commissioner, restriction on removal without officer permission and duty payment, and execution of a bond obliging utilisation within six months or payment of duty with interest.

Customs duty exemption scope expanded to include setting up of units alongside manufacture for special economic zones.
The opening paragraph of the earlier notification is amended by substituting the words "for the purposes of manufacture of goods" with "for the purposes of setting up of units or for the purposes of manufacture of goods", thereby expressly extending customs duty exemption to goods imported or procured for the setting up of units in a special economic zone as well as for manufacture.

Anti-dumping duty on Vitamin A Palmitate imposed with specified per kg rates and strength-based calculation, temporary.
Anti dumping duty is imposed on Vitamin A Palmitate (sub heading 2936.21) from the European Union and Georgia at a rate equal to the difference between a fixed US$/kg amount in the Table and the landed value of the imported product. The Table amount applies to strength 1.7 MIU/g and must be proportionately adjusted for other strengths. Duty is payable in Indian currency, effective until the notified expiry, with "landed value" as the assessable value under the Customs Act excluding specified duties and exchange conversion as per Ministry of Finance notifications.

Provisional anti-dumping duty on Phenol imposed for dumped imports, with specified exporter rates and an effective expiry date.
Provisional anti-dumping duty is imposed on imports of Phenol under sub-headings 2907.11 or 2907.60 from South Africa, Singapore and the European Union based on preliminary findings of dumping, material injury to the Indian industry, and causation; specific duty rates are set for named exporters and for other exporters. The duty is payable in Indian currency, effective up to and including 12 February 2003, and the rate of exchange for calculation is to be that specified by the Government of India, determined with reference to the date of presentation of the bill of entry.

Provisional anti-dumping duty on ferro-silicon imposed on imports from South Africa and Macedonia pending final determination.
Provisional anti-dumping duty is imposed on ferro-silicon imports from South Africa and Macedonia, equal to the difference between a notified benchmark amount per metric tonne and the assessable "landed value" of the imported product, payable in Indian currency. The duty applies to all exporters from the subject countries and is effective until the notification's specified expiry. "Landed value" is the assessable value under the Customs Act excluding certain customs duties, and the applicable rate of exchange is that specified by government notification on the date of presentation of the bill of entry.

Excise duty exemption for SEZ developer imports subject to authorisation, licensed warehousing, reporting and bond obligations.
Exemption from excise and additional excise duties is granted for excisable goods brought into a Special Economic Zone by a developer for SEZ development, operation and maintenance, provided the developer has Development Commissioner permission, the goods are authorised by a Committee headed by the Commissioner of Customs or Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, stored in licensed public or private warehouses under the Customs Act, and the developer maintains accounts, files quarterly statements, obtains permission for removal with payment where applicable, and executes a bond to utilise the goods within six months or extended period, failing which duty with interest is payable.

SEZ procedural amendment expands coverage to include establishment of units as well as manufacture of goods.
Amendment expands the scope of the Central Excise notification governing Special Economic Zones by substituting the opening paragraph to include activities "for the purposes of setting up of units or for the purposes of manufacture of goods", thereby extending procedural coverage to establishment of units as well as manufacture.

Tax-free bond designation confirms HUDCO Gujarat Punamirman bonds' exempt status under section 10(15)(iv), subject to registration.
Central Government specifies HUDCO Gujarat Punamirman Special bonds Series II-A, II-B and II-C as tax-free under clause (iv) of clause (15) of section 10 of the Income-tax Act, identifying denominations, interest rates, tenors, aggregate series amounts and distinctive numbers, and conditions the tax-exempt benefit on the holder registering his or her name and holding with the Corporation.

Tax-free priority sector HUDCO bonds specified; tax exemption conditional on holder registration with the issuer to claim benefit.
Central Government specifies HUDCO Priority Sector bonds as tax-free under clause (15)(iv) of section 10, identifying Series XXI A and Series XXI B issued by Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited with prescribed interest rates, tenors and specified issuance blocks. The notification conditions the tax exemption on the bondholder registering his or her name and holding with the issuing corporation.

Tax exemption for specified HUDCO bonds requires holder registration with the issuing corporation to claim the tax benefit.
Central Government specifies three series of HUDCO Gujarat Punarnirman Special tax-free bonds issued by Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited, identifying series I-A, I-B and I-C with specified interest rates, tenors and aggregate issuance amounts and distinctive bond number ranges. The notification conditions the availability of the tax-free benefit on the holder registering their name and holding with the issuing Corporation.

Tax exemption under clause (23C)(v) granted to a charitable trust, subject to income application, investment and compliance conditions.
Notification grants tax-exempt status under clause (23C)(v) of section 10 to The Church of North India Trust Association, New Delhi, subject to conditions: apply or accumulate income solely for its objects; restrict investments to legally specified modes (excluding certain voluntary movable contributions); exempt business income only if incidental and separately accounted; file returns regularly; and on dissolution transfer surplus and assets to a like charitable organisation.

Charitable institution tax exemption notified subject to conditions on application of income, investments, business and dissolution.
Notification grants tax-exempt status to the Temple Charitable Institutions and Funds of the Goud Saraswat Brahman Community of Bombay, Mumbai subject to conditions: income must be applied or accumulated wholly and exclusively for charitable objects; investments limited to forms specified in section 11(5) except certain voluntary contributions; business income excluded unless incidental with separate books; regular filing of returns required; and on dissolution surplus and assets must pass to a charitable organisation with similar objectives.

Tax exemption under clause 23C(v) granted to a charitable trust, subject to income application, investment and reporting conditions.
Notification designates Hazrat Pir Mohammed Shah Dargah Sharif Trust, Ahmedabad as eligible under clause (23C)(v) of section 10 of the Income tax Act for specified assessment years, subject to conditions: exclusive application or accumulation of income to objects; investment and deposit limited to forms permitted under section 11(5) except retained voluntary contributions in jewellery or furniture; business income excluded unless incidental and separately accounted; regular filing of income tax returns; and on dissolution surplus and assets to transfer to a charitable organisation with similar objectives.

Tax exemption under section 10(23G) granted subject to compliance, with withdrawal for non maintenance or non audit of accounts.
Approval under section 10(23G) read with rule 2E is granted to M/s Karnataka Power Corporation Limited for assessment years 2002-2005 for specified hydroelectric projects. The approval is conditional on compliance with section 10(23G) and rule 2E; the Central Government may withdraw approval if the enterprise ceases to carry on an infrastructure facility, fails to maintain books and obtain audits as required by sub rule (7) of rule 2E, or fails to furnish the mandated audit report.

Anti-dumping duty on BOPP imports imposed with country rates and a price undertaking creating conditional exemptions and provisional assessment.
Anti-dumping duties were imposed on BOPP film imports from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Oman, Singapore and Thailand after findings of dumping and material injury; country specific per unit duty rates were set. A price undertaking by M/s Al Khaleej (Oman) exempts its exports at or above the undertaking price from duty, while exports below that price attract a provisional duty pending the designated authority's recommendation. Duties apply from the provisional imposition date, are payable in Indian currency, and use government notified exchange rates based on the bill of entry date.

Anti-dumping duty on Diclofenac Sodium imports from China applied retroactively and payable in domestic currency.
Imposition of a definitive anti-dumping duty on Diclofenac Sodium from the People's Republic of China pursuant to designated authority findings of dumping, injury and causation; duty levied from the date provisional duty was imposed, payable in Indian currency, with exchange rate for calculation fixed by central government notification and the relevant date for that rate being the presentation date of the bill of entry.

Tax exemption approval under section 10(23G) permits mobile-service enterprise conditional exemption subject to compliance and audited accounts.
Approval is granted to M/s BPL Mobile Cellular Limited for its mobile telephone service project qualifying for tax exemption under section 10(23G) read with rule 2E, subject to compliance with those provisions, maintenance of books, audit by a qualified accountant, and furnishing the audit report; the Central Government may withdraw approval if the undertaking ceases infrastructure operations or fails accounting and audit obligations.

Customs border route designation expands specified land, river and rail crossings with operational restrictions for certain exports.
The Central Government, under clauses (b) and (c) of section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962, substitutes the Serial No. 2 entry in Notification No. 63/94-CUSTOMS(NT) to specify authorised land frontiers, land customs stations and the permitted river, rail and road routes between India and Bangladesh, listing detailed Calcutta-Howrah area jetties, ghats, railway stations, district crossings and modal links. The amendment also identifies limited-route commodity restrictions (notably for coal) and updates the official roster of recognised cross-border corridors for customs purposes.

Service tax exemption for services provided to the United Nations and declared international organisations removes levy on such taxable services.
All taxable services provided to the United Nations or to an international organisation declared under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act are exempted from the whole of the service tax otherwise leviable, the Central Government having exercised its powers to supersede an earlier notification; the term international organisation is defined by reference to organisations covered by that Act's schedule.