Excise notification: pan masala containing tobacco designated as notified goods, excise duty applies when packed using packing machines.
Notification designates pan masala containing tobacco (gutkha) packed in pouches using packing machines as notified goods and provides that excise duty shall be levied and collected on such goods; it defines "packing machine" to include all types of Form, Fill and Seal and profile pouch making machines, whether vertical or horizontal, single-track or multi-track.

Extension of five-year block period: BoA may extend NFE calculation window when export is prohibited or restricted.
If a unit is unable to export because a product in its Letter of Permission is subject to export prohibition or restriction, the Board of Approval (BoA) may suitably extend the five year block period for calculating Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) earnings.

Continuity of prior trade policy instruments: earlier notices remain effective unless inconsistent with current policy.
The amendment adds Para 1.4A stating that earlier Public Notices, Policy Circulars, Notifications or Decisions will be deemed in force under the current Foreign Trade Policy to the extent they are not inconsistent with the present policy and procedure.

Tariff values updated: substitution of customs tariff value table fixing values for specified edible oils, brass scrap and poppy seeds.
An amendment substitutes the tariff-value Table in Notification No.36/2001-Cus (N.T.) under section 14(2) of the Customs Act, fixing unit tariff values in US dollars per metric tonne for specified goods, including crude and refined palm oil and palmolein, crude soyabean oil, brass scrap (all grades), and poppy seeds; most edible-oil entries remain unchanged while the Table lists values for brass scrap and poppy seeds.

Import licensing amendment adds a policy circular reference to the import licensing note, integrating it into the trade framework.
Amendment adds a cross-reference to Policy Circular No.13 (RE-08)/2004-2009 dated 30.06.2008 at the end of the existing Import Licensing Note no. (2) inserted at the end of Chapter 25 of Schedule I (Imports) to the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items, 2004 09 by Notification No. 19 (RE-2008)/2004-09 dated June 30, 2008, issued under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 read with paragraph 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2004 09.

Import policy change for specified marble and calcareous stone permits free import subject to minimum CIF value per square metre.
The notification amends Schedule I (Imports) to classify specified tiles, marble, travertine, alabaster and other calcareous stone Exim Codes as Free imports, subject to the operative condition that import is permitted freely provided the CIF value meets or exceeds the prescribed minimum per square metre.

Negative list amendments for paper products alter applicability of industrial concessions for specified paper manufacture and supplies.
Central Government notification amends the Negative List in Annexure III of the New Industrial Policy for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, specifying tariff headings and detailed descriptions of paper products excluded from concessions-covering pulp manufacture, newsprint, uncoated and coated writing and printing papers, kraft and carton papers, tissue and sanitary papers, composite and straw boards, carbon and self copy papers, coated laminates and cigarette paper, and specialty supplies such as Braille press indent supplies and process based manufacture qualifications.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointed to exercise Commissioner of Customs powers for adjudicating a specified show cause notice.
Appoints a Common Adjudicating Authority by delegating the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Kolkata to the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva for adjudicating the show cause notice relating to M/s. Surat Metlon Private Limited; the appointment rests on statutory authority under the Customs Act and confines the transfer of jurisdiction to the specified proceedings.

Common adjudicating authority appointed to adjudicate a show cause notice against Shree Laxmi Trading Company.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs appoints the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva, as a Common Adjudicating Authority to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Kolkata, for adjudicating a show cause notice issued to M/s. Shree Laxmi Trading Company and another.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointed to decide the show cause proceedings against M/s Agarwal Metals and Alloys.
Appoints the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Jawahar Customs House, Nhava Sheva as the Common Adjudicating Authority under sections 4(1) and 5(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 to exercise the adjudicatory powers of the Joint Commissioner, Customs House Kandla and the Commissioner, ICD Tughlakabad for adjudicating the show cause notice issued to M/s Agarwal Metals and Alloys by the Additional Director General, DRI, Ahmedabad, as identified by the cited file reference.

Anti dumping duty on vitrified and porcelain tiles from China PR maintained to prevent dumped imports and protect domestic industry.
The Central Government has continued imposition of anti-dumping duty on vitrified and porcelain tiles originating in or exported from China PR following a sunset review that found likely recurrence of dumping and ongoing injury to domestic industry; the notification prescribes producer- and exporter-specific duties (nil for specified combinations, a specified per-square-metre duty for others), is issued under section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act read with anti-dumping rules, defines the subject goods by water absorption and exemption of industrial tiles, and is effective for five years.

Anti-dumping duty extension maintains protection on graphite electrodes, prolonging applicable customs measures pending review process.
The Central Government, exercising powers under Section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act read with Rule 23, amended the principal notification to continue the anti dumping duty on graphite electrodes originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China, inserting a paragraph that the notification shall remain in force up to and inclusive of 6 July 2009 unless revoked earlier, thereby extending the duty pending completion of the statutory review.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointment transferring adjudication responsibility for specified customs show cause notices.
Appointment of a Common Adjudicating Authority under the Customs Act designating the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Mumbai Port to exercise the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, specifically for adjudication of show cause notices issued to M/s. Valecha Engineering Limited and others, effectuating a transfer of adjudicatory responsibility for the listed proceedings.

Research institution approval under income tax rules conditions donor funds' use and audited reporting requirements.
Approval of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre as an approved organisation under section 35(1)(ii), category 'other Institution' partly engaged in research, is subject to conditions: sums received must be used for scientific research by faculty or enrolled students; separate books for research receipts and expenditures must be maintained and audited by a qualified accountant; the audit report and an auditor-certified statement of donations and amounts applied for research must be furnished to the jurisdictional tax officer by the due date for filing the income-tax return.

Approval under section 35(1)(ii) enables donations for scientific research subject to accounting, audit and reporting conditions.
The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, is approved under section 35(1)(ii) as an "other Institution" partly engaged in research with effect from 1.4.2006, subject to conditions: sums paid must be utilized for scientific research; research must be carried out through faculty or enrolled students; separate books of accounts for research receipts and expenditure must be maintained and audited by an accountant with the audit report furnished to the Commissioner or Director of Income-tax by the return due date; and a separate auditor-certified statement of donations and amounts applied for research must accompany the audit report.

Exemption notification amendment substitutes the unit name to Delhi Institute of Tool Engineering, updating eligibility designation for exemption.
The Government amends Notification No. 63/95-Central Excise by substituting in the Table against S. No. 8, column (3), the brackets, figures and words "(vi) Tool Room and Training Centre, Delhi" with "(vi) Delhi Institute of Tool Engineering", under powers vested by the Central Excise Act and the Additional Duties of Excise (Goods of Special Importance) Act.

Import licensing for marble now requires compliance with specified policy circular conditions under the import classification regime.
Amendment to Schedule I (Imports) inserts an import licensing note at the end of Chapter 25 making marble imports subject to the conditions prescribed in the relevant policy circulars; the change ties marble import clearance and licensing to those policy circular requirements and is issued in the public interest.

Customs port appointment: permitted unloading and export of vessels by a named shipbuilder at Dabhol Port under customs authority.
Amendment adds two clauses to the Dabhol Port entry in Notification No.62/94-Customs (N.T.), authorising (c) unloading of goods for manufacture and repair of cargo ships, barges and similar vessels by M/s Bharati Shipyard Limited and (d) export by M/s Bharati Shipyard Limited of cargo ships, barges and similar vessels, made under the powers conferred by section 7(1)(a) of the Customs Act, 1962.

Default treatment for defence personnel recurring deposits allows limited maturity extensions; discontinuance and constrained revival follow repeated defaults.
Amendment adds provisos to Rule 7(2) of the Post Office (Recurring Deposit) Rules, 1981, permitting personnel of Defence Services (excluding Civilian Defence Employees) with defaults up to a defined threshold to extend the maturity by months equal to the defaults and deposit missed installments during the extension; if defaults exceed that threshold the account is treated as discontinued and may be revived only within a short period from the relevant default month, subject to payment of interest and all defaulted installments.

Account eligibility clarified: illiterate and physically handicapped adults may hold single post office time deposit through a literate agent.
Amendment specifies Single Account holders under the Post Office Time Deposit Rules, 1981: (a) an adult; (b) an illiterate adult through a literate agent nominated by him or her; or (c) a blind or otherwise physically handicapped adult, either directly or through a literate agent nominated by him or her, by substituting the specified entries in sub rule (2) of rule 4, Table A (Individual Accounts).