Anti dumping duty on hot rolled steel imports imposing differential charges based on benchmark prices and landed value assessment.
The Central Government, relying on the designated authority's final findings and exercising powers under section 9A(1) of the Customs Tariff Act read with rule 18 and rule 20(1) of the Anti Dumping Rules, imposes anti dumping duty on hot rolled coils, strips, sheets and plates under heading 72.08 originating in or exported from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine (with an explicit exemption for hot rolled coils from Kazakhstan), calculated as the difference between specified benchmark amounts per metric tonne and the assessable landed value of the goods determined under the Customs Act.

Amendment to customs exemption extends the temporal application for defence and internal security imports under statutory powers.
Amendment to a customs exemption notification substitutes the word-and-figures in the Explanation to S. No. 15 of the Table in Notification No. 39/96-Cus, extending the period for exemption on machinery, instruments, tools and accessories imported by the Defence and internal security forces by replacing the originally specified month with a later month under statutory powers exercised in the public interest.

Microprocessor exemption expanded to include standalone microprocessors for automatic data processing machines other than motherboards.
The Central Government amends Notification No. 12/97-Customs to add an exemption for standalone microprocessors for automatic data processing machines, expressly excluding motherboards, by inserting a new item after item (a) against serial 15 in the notification table, thereby extending the exemption to such microprocessors within the relevant tariff classification.

Tariff amendment adds microprocessors and silica preforms to customs exemption table, altering duty rates and conditions.
Amendment inserts two new tariff table entries in Notification No. 23/98-Customs: one for microprocessors for automatic data processing machines (other than motherboards) with an adjusted duty measure, and one for preform of silica for manufacture of telecommunication grade optical fibres or optical fibre cables with a distinct duty treatment and related conditional entry.

Exemption from special additional duty: nil duty for subbed polyester base used in manufacture of X-ray and graphic art films.
Amendment to Notification No. 56/98-Customs inserts serial 5A to grant nil Special Additional Duty on subbed polyester base imported for manufacture of medical X-ray films, industrial X-ray films, and graphic art films, under powers conferred by the Customs Tariff Act.

Jurisdictional designation reallocates income tax appellate jurisdiction and transfers pending appeals to newly assigned appellate charges.
The notification abolishes Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-VII, reallocates appellate jurisdiction under section 120, and directs specified Commissioners of Income-tax (Appeals) to perform appellate functions for persons assessed by the assessing authorities listed in the schedule across multiple tax statutes. It provides that appeals pending in transferred Wards/Circles/Special Ranges immediately before the effective date shall be transferred to and dealt with by the Commissioner to whom the area is reassigned, and the order takes effect from the date of notification.

Exchange rate determination for export goods sets official conversion rates under the Customs Act, superseding prior notification.
The Central Government, under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962, determines official exchange rates for conversion between specified foreign currencies and Indian rupees for export goods, effective 1st December, 1998, superseding the earlier notification; the specific conversion values are set out in Schedule I (per one unit) and Schedule II (per 100 units).

Exchange rates for imported goods prescribed for stamp duty and customs valuation, setting official conversion rates for foreign currencies.
Prescribes official exchange rates for specified foreign currencies to convert into Indian rupees for calculating stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and for the purposes of section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 in relation to imported goods; supersedes the earlier notification and declares two appended schedules (Schedule I: per unit rates; Schedule II: rates per one hundred units) to be operative from the notified commencement date for stamp duty and customs valuation.

Recognition criteria for service exporters: free foreign exchange thresholds now determine trading house status and entitlement to Chapter 12 benefits.
Amendment permits hotels, travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators to qualify as Export House, Trading House, Star Trading House or Super Star Trading House based on prescribed free foreign exchange earning thresholds (average over three licensing years and for the preceding licensing year). Recognised entities receive benefits under Chapter 12 of the Handbook of Procedures, and SIL entitlement under Chapter 12 is to be calculated on payments received in free foreign exchange rather than on FOB export value.

Anti-dumping duty on Ortho Chloro Benzaldehyde from China; duty equals difference between reference price and landed value.
Imposition of anti-dumping duty on Ortho Chloro Benzaldehyde from the Peoples Republic of China is prescribed based on findings of export below normal value, material injury to Indian industry and cumulative causation. The duty is defined as the difference between a stated reference amount per kilogram and the landed value per kilogram of the article. The notification specifies an expiry date and defines "landed value" as the assessable value under the Customs Act, excluding certain customs duties levied under specified tariff provisions.

Anti-dumping duty on citric acid from Peoples Republic of China imposed as difference between benchmark and landed value.
An anti-dumping duty is imposed on citric acid originating in or exported from the Peoples Republic of China, calculated as the difference between a specified benchmark price and the landed value per metric tonne. The measure is based on preliminary findings of export below normal value, material injury to the Indian industry, and cumulative causation by the subject country's exports. "Landed value" is defined as the assessable value under the Customs Act, excluding certain customs duties.

Anti dumping duty on Lovastatin from China set as difference between reference price and landed value, capped and time limited.
An anti dumping duty is imposed on Lovastatin imported from the People's Republic of China, calculated as the difference between a specified reference price per kilogram and the landed value per kilogram, subject to an express maximum cap; landed value is defined as the assessable value under the Customs Act excluding certain customs duties.

Exemption withdrawal for accredited press photographic imports: amendment removes tariff relief for cameras and related equipment.
Exemption for photographic and cinematographic cameras, lenses, filters, flash apparatus and exposure meters imported by accredited press cameramen is withdrawn by amendment to the tariff notification: item number (233) in List 2 of Notification No. 23/98-Customs is omitted, removing the previously granted import relief for the listed equipment.

Excise classification: Betel nut powder designated as Supari and made subject to specified excise duty.
The Central Government, under section 5A of the Central Excise Act, amends notification No. 05/98-Central Excise by inserting entry 4A under tariff heading 2107.00, classifying "Betel nut powder as Supari" and making it subject to a specified excise duty rate, thereby modifying the schedule to the principal notification dated 2 June 1998.

Renewal of recognition: Magadh Stock Exchange Association granted a limited-term recognition for securities contracts, subject to conditions.
Renewal of recognition granted to Magadh Stock Exchange Association, Patna, for contracts in securities for a one year term commencing in December 1998 and ending in December 1999, applied after consideration of an application and subject to any conditions that may be prescribed or imposed subsequently.

Concessional import procedure for steel inputs: amendment adds specified raw materials eligible subject to prescribed customs rules.
Amendment inserts tariff exemption entry 14A allowing specified goods to be imported for use in the manufacture of steel at concessional rates, conditional on the importer following the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rules, 1996. Eligible goods listed include limestone (silica under 0.6%), coking and non-coking coal (ash under 12%), metallurgical coke, ferro-nickel, charge nickel/nickel oxide sinter, and graphite electrodes of size 28 inches and above.

Exchange recognition conditions require trader registration, settlement guarantee fund, uniform trading cycle and staged capital compliance.
Recognition to Inter connected Stock Exchange of India Ltd. is granted for a three year period contingent on pre commencement and ongoing conditions: traders must be SEBI registered with a minimum number of members; a Settlement Guarantee Fund must be established with a Chartered Accountant's certification of the corpus; participating exchanges must operate a uniform trading and settlement cycle; and traders must meet staged Base Minimum Capital requirements, with trading rights suspended for failure to maintain the required capital.

Anti-dumping duty on imported acrylic fibre set as difference from landed value, applied to specified exporters and countries.
Imposition of anti-dumping duty on acrylic fibre (1.5-8.0 denier) from Japan, Spain, Portugal and Italy, computed as the difference between specified rupee-per-kilogram amounts in the annexed Table and the landed value per kg; exporter-specific rates are set for named Japanese firms and country-wide rates for other exporters, with "landed value" defined as the assessable value under the Customs Act excluding certain customs duties.

Anti-dumping duty rescission: central government withdraws prior notification on imported polystyrene from specified exporters.
Central government rescinds the anti-dumping notification concerning polystyrene imports from Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Japan, invoking its tariff enforcement powers and the procedural framework for identification, assessment and collection of anti-dumping duty and determination of injury; the rescission withdraws Government Notification No. 43/98-Customs (published as GSR 371(E)).

Anti-dumping duty on polystyrene imports enforces country- and exporter-specific tariffs to counter dumping and protect domestic industry.
The Central Government, under section 9A(1) read with Rules 18 and 20, imposes anti-dumping duty on GPPS and HIPS polystyrene (excluding expansible polystyrene) originating in or exported from Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan, specifying exporter- and country-specific per-metric-tonne rates and applying default rates for any other company; the duties are effective from the provisional duty imposition date of 30th June, 1998.