Qualified Foreign Investors access an expanded securities list with specified investment ceilings and removed maturity restrictions.
Amendments to Schedule 5 substitute "eligible investors" for "FIIs", delete residual maturity stipulations, and authorise Qualified Foreign Investors to purchase specified instruments on a repatriation basis through SEBI registered QDPs or on recognised exchanges, including government securities, commercial paper, Security Receipts (with 10% individual and 49% aggregate tranche limits), Perpetual Debt (49% aggregate and 10% individual limits per issue), infrastructure non convertible debentures, IFC bonds, and rupee bonds/units of Infrastructure Debt Funds; parallel entitlements for SEBI registered long term investors are also prescribed, with conditions on primary issue listing and mandatory disposal/redemption where applicable, and all acquisitions remain subject to SEBI and Reserve Bank terms.

Customs exemption extension for import of pulses prolonged, preserving duty-free treatment under existing notification framework
Substitution of expiry date in the proviso to Notification No. 12/2012-Customs: the words "1st day of April, 2013" in clause (a) after the Table are replaced by "1st day of April, 2014", thereby extending the exemption from customs duty on import of pulses under the principal notification.

Customs tariff amendment: substitution of the schedule prescribing tariff lines and applicable rates for imports from Japan.
Amendment substitutes the Table in notification No.69/2011 Customs with a comprehensive Table listing chapters, headings, sub headings and tariff items with corresponding rates for "All goods" entries; the substitution, effected under section 25(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 and published in the Gazette, changes the schedule of tariff treatment for the listed imports from Japan and comes into force on the first day of April, 2013.

Export prohibition on edible oils narrowed by enumerated exemptions and limited branded pack exports under a minimum export price.
The Government amends the prohibition on export of edible oils by expanding specified exemptions: castor oil; coconut oil from EDI ports and notified LCS; deemed exports of edible oils from DTA to 100% EOUs as inputs for non edible exported goods; DTA supplies to SEZs for processed food manufacture subject to value addition norms; certain minor forest produce edible oils (ITC[HS] codes enumerated); and an annual allocation for organic edible oils under existing conditions. Branded consumer pack exports (up to 5 kg) are permitted subject to a Minimum Export Price, and peanut butter remains outside the prohibition.

Export prohibition on pulses extended with exceptions for kabuli chana and certified organic pulses under APEDA conditions.
Prohibition on export of pulses is extended to 31.03.2014 by amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy notifications, while excluding Kabuli Chana. Exports of organic pulses and lentils are allowed subject to an annual quantity ceiling and conditions: certification as organic by the designated organic certification authority; prior registration of export contracts with the designated export promotion agency; and shipment only from Customs EDI ports.

Duty exemption for Project ASTRA permits specified missile system imports under authorised works centres with certification and use limits.
The notification inserts an exemption allowing imports of specified machinery, equipment, components, spares, tools, software, raw materials and consumables for Project ASTRA, conditional on import by authorised works centres designated by a Ministry of Defence officer not below Deputy Secretary and production to customs, at import, of a list certified by the Project Director, ASTRA, DRDL Hyderabad, confirming items are required for Project ASTRA, not manufactured in India, and authorised by the Ministry of Defence for use only in Project ASTRA; exemption lapses on or after 1 September 2013.

Exemption for Project ASTRA equipment subject to pre- and post-clearance certification and specified time limitation.
Amendment creates a conditional excise exemption for equipment and stores for Project ASTRA: claimant must produce a pre-clearance certificate from the Project Director, ASTRA, DRDL, Hyderabad certifying intended use; where goods are used outside the factory of production, the manufacturer must, within five months of clearance or any extended period allowed by the Deputy or Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise, produce a certificate from the Project Director evidencing receipt and actual use; the exemption is time-limited and ceases on a specified future date.

KYC registration obligations now require intermediaries to upload authenticated client KYC, retain physical files, and furnish them on request.
Regulatory amendments require intermediaries to perform initial KYC/due diligence, upload authenticated KYC information onto the KRA system, furnish scanned images of KYC documents to the KRA, and retain physical KYC documents. For mutual fund clients, the appointed Registrar to an Issue and Share Transfer Agent may perform and upload the initial KYC and scanned images. A new provision mandates that the intermediary or mutual fund must furnish physical KYC documents or authenticated copies to the KRA upon request. Clause wording is adjusted to emphasize retaining physical documents.

Tax exemption rules altered: condition removed from notification, changing eligibility criteria effective on publication.
The Central Government, under its statutory power, amends the earlier income-tax notification S.O. 2685(E) by omitting condition (v) in paragraph (g) of that notification; the omission takes effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and changes the eligibility criteria for the referenced tax exemption.

Exchange of information and assistance in collection enables cross-border tax information sharing and enforcement between India and Argentina.
Agreement establishes mutual exchange of information and assistance in collection between India and Argentina for taxes specified, obliging competent authorities to provide foreseeably relevant information, to use information-gathering measures (including bank and ownership information) and, where permitted, depositions and originals. It permits requests for tax examinations abroad subject to domestic law, sets grounds for declining requests (including public policy and legal privilege), requires confidentiality of exchanged information, allocates ordinary and extraordinary costs, mandates implementing legislation, and provides a mutual agreement procedure and termination mechanism.

Anti-dumping duty on meta phenylene diamine to counter dumped imports and safeguard domestic industry.
Anti-dumping duty is imposed on Meta Phenylene Diamine (MPDA) originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China following preliminary findings of dumping below normal value and material injury to the domestic industry. The notification specifies tariff classification, identifies particular producers and exporters with differentiated provisional duty rates, provides a default rate for other combinations and for trade involving other countries, and states that duties are expressed in US dollars per kilogram but collected in Indian currency using the official exchange rate; the levy is provisional for up to six months.

Prior online submission of invoice and goods receipt details required before goods enter Delhi for specified dealers.
Dealers must submit details of invoices and goods receipt notes for goods received as stock transfers from outside Delhi online, using their login id and password, before the goods physically enter the Delhi boundary, and must use the revised Form T-2; the requirement takes effect immediately for dealers meeting the specified turnover threshold with applicability to other dealers to be notified later.

Secured bonds or debentures against fixed assets limited to market value; authorised officials may file deposits complaints.
Amendment provides that bonds or debentures secured by mortgage of specified fixed assets (excluding intangibles) or convertible into shares are subject to the Acceptance of Deposits rules, with the amount of such secured instruments not to exceed the market value of the charged fixed assets; it also authorises the Regional Director, Registrar of Companies, or any other Central Government officer to make complaints under the deposits enforcement provision.

Exchange rate determination for customs: prescribed conversion rates set for import and export valuation, effective March implementation.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs determines the rate of exchange for specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees for import and export valuation, effective 22 March 2013, superseding the earlier notification. Rates are listed in two annexed Schedules (per-unit rates and a 100-unit Japanese Yen entry), with separate columns for imported and export goods; corrigenda correct prior entries for Kenya Shilling. The determination applies prospectively except for prior acts or omissions.

Renewal of recognition under Securities Contracts Act: exchange recognition renewed for one year subject to SEBI compliance conditions.
SEBI renewed recognition under Section 4 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act to United Stock Exchange of India Limited for a one-year period commencing 22 March 2013 and ending 21 March 2014 in respect of contracts in securities, subject to conditions prescribed or imposed by SEBI and requiring the Exchange's compliance with such conditions during the renewal term.

Scientific Research Association approval requires separate research accounts and audited donation statements to retain tax treatment.
Approval of National Agri Foods Biotechnology Institute, Mohali as an Scientific Research Association under section 35(1)(ii) is subject to: sole objective of undertaking scientific research; conducting research activity directly; maintaining separate books of account for research receipts and expenditures; maintaining a separate certified statement of donations and amounts applied to research; and furnishing an auditor's report signed by a qualified accountant to the tax authority by the return due date.

Acquisition of SWIFT equity permitted for licensed Indian banks, subject to SWIFT by laws and Reserve Bank admission approval.
The Reserve Bank grants a general permission permitting Indian banking companies licensed under the Banking Regulation Act to acquire shares of SWIFT, Belgium, in accordance with SWIFT by laws, provided the banking company obtains Reserve Bank permission for admission to the SWIFT User's Group in India; this insertion is made as Regulation 6D and takes effect on publication in the Official Gazette.

Trade credit limits revised: authorized dealers may approve supplier or buyer credits with specified maturities and no roll overs.
Amendments permit rescheduling and refinancing of foreign currency borrowings at a higher cost within the Reserve Bank's all-in-cost ceiling, with refinancing not reducing original outstanding maturity; they redefine trade credit and set AD approval parameters and maturity bands for trade credits, including a prohibition on roll-over beyond permissible periods, and are deemed effective from specified prior dates with clarification that retrospective effect will not adversely affect any person.

Adjudication procedure under Prevention of Money Laundering Act: rules on filing, service, evidence, dress and certified copies.
Regulations establish the procedural framework for adjudication under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, specifying filing, form and electronic submission requirements, receipt and stamping, registration and numbering of applications and complaints, duties of the Registrar including limitation checks and hearing fixation, service and notice rules allowing electronic service, inspection and copying procedures with prescribed fees, witness examination and deposition recording in set forms, order pronouncement and signature requirements, and post disposal indexing, bundling and record management.

Recruitment rules for Section Officer establish composite deputation and promotion routes with prescribed qualifications and relaxations.
These Rules set the recruitment framework for the Group 'B' Section Officer post in the Company Law Board, using a composite method of deputation and promotion. Deputation eligibility requires analogous regular service or five years in the specified pay band plus a degree and two years administrative experience; Departmental Assistants with five years' service may be considered and, if selected, treated as promoted. Deputation ordinarily does not exceed three years and has an upper age limit; the Central Government may relax provisions after consulting the Union Public Service Commission, and statutory reservations and concessions remain preserved.