Edible oil import exemption allows duty-free entry of edible oils and oil-bearing materials until a specified deadline.
The Central Government amends Notification No. 11/97 Cus by substituting the Table entry for serial number 8 to exempt "edible oils or any material from which edible oil can be extracted" when imported up to and inclusive of 31 March 1998, recording nil customs duty and nil additional duty for the amended tariff entry and thereby creating a temporary import duty exemption for those goods.

Small scale exemption scheme: tiered excise treatment for first clearances, subject to eligibility and credit restrictions.
A small scale manufacturer exemption effective 1 April 1997 establishes tiered duty treatment for first clearances in a financial year-nil up to thirty lakhs, three per cent on the next twenty lakhs, and five per cent on the next fifty lakhs-subject to aggregation rules, a three hundred lakh preceding-year eligibility ceiling, an irrevocable pre-clearance option to opt out, and restrictions on using input and capital goods duty credits where first clearances do not exceed one hundred lakhs; exclusions, brand-name limitations and an annexure of covered and excluded goods are specified.

Tax exemption recognition confirms United News of India as a news agency under income tax law for specified assessment years.
Central Government notification under clause (22B) of section 10 recognises United News of India as a news agency established in India solely for collection and distribution of news, making it eligible for the tax treatment provided by that clause for the specified assessment years.

ITC (HS) Classification notified establishing the operative tariff classification framework for exports and imports under the Foreign Trade Policy administration.
The Central Government, exercising authority under the Foreign Trade Act and the Export-Import Policy, notifies the ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import Items as the operative tariff classification schedule for the policy period, incorporating the detailed classification entries by reference to the Annexure and establishing the classification framework for export and import transactions.

Export and Import Policy notification invokes Foreign Trade Act authority to notify EXIM Policy, establishing new trade framework.
The Central Government, exercising authority under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, notifies the Export and Import Policy 1997-2002 as set out in the annexure and brings it into force from 1 April 1997, issuing the notification in the public interest and signed by the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Specification under Section 35AC extends tax-exempt status for a medical trust's rural outreach health scheme.
The Central Government, invoking the Explanation to Section 35AC, specifies the Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust's Vision-Phase-II Rural Outreach Eye Care Programme and related hospital additions and quarters as an eligible project for gifts/donations; the National Committee recommended, and the Government granted, a three-year extension of the original three-year specification to commence from the assessment year 1998-99, thereby extending the period in which gifts to that specified scheme qualify for the statutory exemption.

Exemption under section 35AC extended for a specified medical trust scheme permitting donations for eligible hospital projects.
The Central Government specifies the scheme of Shri Sathya Sai Medical Trust under section 35AC for maintenance and running of cardiology, hospital repairs/renewals, and maintenance of ophthalmology and subsequent ENT phases; on recommendation of the National Committee and under the relevant rule, the scheme is extended as an eligible project for a further assessment-year period at the stated estimated project cost, preserving its qualification for the statutory tax-related benefits during that extension.

Exemption under section 35AC: Shri Sathya Sai Central Trust drinking water scheme specified as eligible for two assessment years.
Exemption under section 35AC is applied to the Shri Sathya Sai Central Trust drinking water supply project in District Anantapur by central notification, extending the scheme's designation as an eligible project for two further assessment years commencing 1998-99, following a National Committee recommendation that the project was being properly executed and relying on powers in the Explanation to section 35AC.

Exemption under income tax provision: specification extended for an eligible project following National Committee recommendation.
The Central Government specifies the Mahyco Research Foundation Trust scheme for Phase II of Shri Ganapati Netralaya at Jalana as an eligible project under the income tax exemption provision, extending the prior three year specification for a further three assessment years following a National Committee recommendation that the project is being executed properly, and records the estimated project cost in the notification.

Exemption under income tax provision extended for hospital renovation scheme, renewing eligibility and specifying scope and estimated project cost.
The Central Government specifies the Shri K. J. Mehta T. B. Hospital renovation and updating scheme at Amargarh as an eligible project under the income tax provision for a further three assessment years beginning 1998 99, covering renovation of the 747 bedded hospital, additions, furniture replacement, staff quarters work, roads, equipment procurement and tuberculosis diagnostic camps, following a National Committee recommendation and an earlier three year notification.

Exemption under section 35AC: scheme specified as eligible for an extended period under income tax rules.
The Central Government specifies the scheme of Swa-Roopwardhinee, Pune, for running a Balwadi and a centre for integrated development of girls, boys and women slum dwellers and for women's development activities as an eligible project under the income tax exemption provision. Pursuant to a National Committee recommendation, the scheme is specified for a further period of three assessment years commencing from the assessment year 1998 99 at an estimated project cost of rupees forty lakhs.

Tax exemption for charitable health project extended after National Committee recommendation, maintaining scheme eligibility for further assessment years.
Central Government specified the scheme of Bhagavatula Charitable Trust for extension and running of a Grama Arogyalayam at Yellamanchili as an eligible project under the Explanation to section 35AC. The National Committee, satisfied with execution, recommended further specification under the rules, and the Government, exercising its powers, specified the scheme for a further three assessment years commencing from the stated assessment year at the estimated project cost noted in the notification.

Exemption under Section 35AC: project approval extends tax exempt status for specified charitable construction over three assessment years.
Approval under the Explanation to Section 35AC is granted for Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council's construction of Mata Gujari Old Age Home cum Orphanage at village Khanpur, District Ropar, Punjab, specifying the institution and project at the estimated cost and extending eligibility for tax exemption for three assessment years commencing 1998 99, on the National Committee's recommendation that the project is being executed properly.

Exemption under Section 35AC: specification of a road construction scheme extended following regulatory recommendation.
The Central Government specified the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited scheme for road construction at Thiruthuraipoondi and Nagapattinam as an eligible project under the Explanation to section 35AC, and, following a National Committee recommendation under sub rule (5) of rule 11M that the project was being executed properly, extended that specification for a further two assessment years commencing from assessment year 1997 98 at the estimated cost stated in the notification.

Section 35AC eligibility extended for Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council's Mata Gujri Old Age Home scheme of running expenses.
The Central Government, under the Explanation to section 35AC, specified the Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council's scheme for running Mata Gujri Old Age Home cum Orphanage as an eligible project for income tax exemption and, following the National Committee's recommendation, extended that specification for an additional three assessment years commencing from assessment year 1998 99, noting the scheme's estimated cost and implementing organisation.

Section 35AC exemption extended for Krishnamurti Foundation's sports complex scheme, making it an eligible project for two assessment years.
The Central Government, under the Explanation to section 35AC, specifies the Krishnamurti Foundation India's scheme for constructing a sports complex at Chas Kaman Lake as an eligible project or scheme for tax-exemption purposes. After earlier notifications and an affirmative recommendation from the National Committee that the project was being properly executed and likely to extend beyond two years, the government extends specification for a further two assessment years beginning with the assessment year 1997-98, and records the estimated project cost in the notification.

Tax exemption under section 35AC extended for Ayodhya Charitable Trust hospital scheme after National Committee recommendation.
Central Government specifies the Ayodhya Charitable Trust's General Hospital, Pune scheme as an eligible project for tax exemption under section 35AC for a further three assessment years commencing 1997-98, at the estimated cost stated in the notification, extending the earlier specification that began in 1994-95 and adopted following the National Committee's recommendation under the Income-tax Rules.

Exemption under section 35AC: extension of eligibility for a nursing college scheme providing free education and student support.
The Central Government specified the Karnataka Health Institute's Nursing College scheme, which provides free education, accommodation, food and uniform, as an eligible project for income-tax exemption purposes for a further limited period following the National Committee's recommendation that the project is being executed properly; the Government issued a formal notification exercising powers under the Income-tax Act to extend the specification and recorded the estimated project cost.

Exemption under section 35AC extended: YMCA vocational training centre specified as an eligible project for three assessment years.
Central Government specified the Bombay Youngmen's Christian Association scheme for construction, equipment, furnishing and running of a vocational training centre at Andheri, Mumbai, as an eligible project under the Explanation to section 35AC, extending prior designation for a further three assessment years following a National Committee recommendation and identifying the project purpose, location and estimated cost.

Income Tax exemption designation extended for Karnataka Badminton Association's eligible project following regulatory recommendation and review.
Central Government has specified the Karnataka Badminton Association's scheme for construction of an indoor badminton stadium as an eligible project or scheme for income tax exemption purposes under the Explanation to section 35AC, following a National Committee recommendation that the project is being executed properly, and has extended the specification for a further three assessment years with an amended estimated project cost.