Exchange Rate Determination: prescribed rupee equivalents for specified foreign currencies apply to import and export valuation.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs prescribes official rupee equivalents for specified foreign currencies for conversion into Indian rupees and vice versa, with distinct rates for imported goods and for export goods set out in two schedules; the notification, issued under the Customs Act, supersedes the prior currency notification except as to past actions and establishes the operative exchange rates for customs valuation purposes.

Reconstitution of review panel defines committee composition and jurisdiction for central excise internal reviews under Section 35B.
Amendment substitutes the TABLE in Notification No. 5/2007-Central Excise (N.T.) to reconstitute panels for review cases under Section 35B, specifying that each committee will comprise identified Chief Commissioners (Central Excise and Customs where applicable) together with the Commissioner (Central Excise and Service Tax), Large Taxpayer Unit, for the designated areas of Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi, thereby defining the administrative composition and jurisdictional allocation for internal review.

Committee composition updated: two Chief Commissioners named for specified central excise regions, altering existing notification.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs, under statutory authority, substitutes Sl. No. 21 in Notification No.24/2005-Central Excise (N.T.) to specify a committee composed of the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Shillong and the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata, for the territorial jurisdictions of Dibrugarh, Shillong and Guwahati, by Notification No.03/2009 dated 28 January 2009.

Jurisdiction reallocation for central excise review committees establishes specified commissioners to handle review cases.
The amendment substitutes the Table entry at Sl. No. 61 to reallocate review jurisdiction among the Commissioners of Central Excise at Shillong, Dibrugarh and Guwahati, and identifies the Commissioner of Central Excise (Appeals), Guwahati for specified matters, thereby redefining which commissioner offices are competent to handle review cases under the principal notification.

Inland Container Deport designation for sector-specific biotech SEZ deemed an ICD under customs law by central government.
Central Government, exercising powers under the SEZ Act, appointed the sector specific biotech SEZ at Pregnapur (developer: M/s. Vivo Bio Tech Limited) as deemed to be an Inland Container Deport under Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962 with effect from 27 January 2008, thereby conferring the customs status and regulatory consequences of an Inland Container Deport on the designated SEZ.

Approval Committee for Biotech SEZ established, specifying membership, nominee ranks, developer representation, and alternate representation rules.
Constitutes an Approval Committee for the Biotech Special Economic Zone at Pregnapur, Andhra Pradesh, under sub section (1) of Section 13 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, for the SEZ developed by M/s. Vivo Bio Tech Limited. The Committee's composition includes the Development Commissioner (Chairperson, ex officio), a Department of Commerce official (or nominee), Joint Director General of Foreign Trade (Hyderabad), Commissioners of Customs/Central Excise and Income Tax (or nominees), Director (Banking), two Andhra Pradesh officers (not below Joint Secretary), and the developer as Special Invitee; an officer not below Joint Development Commissioner may represent the Development Commissioner in his absence.

Special Economic Zone designation for biotech enables development, operation and maintenance under SEZ Act provisions.
The Central Government, invoking powers under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and the Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006, notifies a sector specific Special Economic Zone for the biotech sector at Pregnapur village, Gajwel Mandal, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, for development, operation and maintenance, identifying specific survey numbers that together comprise 10.926512 hectares.

Special Economic Zone amendment: Letter of Approval date corrected for sector-specific IT/ITES SEZ at Rajarhat.
Central Government, under Section 4 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 and Rule 8 of the SEZ Rules, amends notification S.O. 2002(E) to substitute the Date of the Letter of Approval in paragraph No.2 for the sector-specific SEZ for Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services at Rajarhat promoted by M/s. Unitech Hi-tech Structures Ltd., effecting an administrative correction to the notification text.

Appointment under Delhi Value Added Tax Act: Additional Commissioner designated to assist Commissioner in administration of VAT.
The Lt. Governor, exercising powers under the Delhi Value Added Tax Act and rules, notifies the immediate appointment of Sh. F.O. Hashmi as Additional Commissioner of Value Added Tax to assist the Commissioner in the administration and enforcement of the Delhi Value Added Tax Act.

Market Stabilization Scheme repurchase of government stock establishes premature redemption and payment of accrued interest to accepted bidders.
Repurchase under the Market Stabilization Scheme will be carried out via an RBI conducted repurchase auction in which banks and financial institutions whose offers are accepted will have their Government Stock prematurely redeemed; the Government will pay the accepted price(s) and accrued interest up to the day before redemption, interest ceases from the date of premature redemption, and unredeemed stock continues to bear the stated coupon payable half yearly until original redemption. Matters not provided are governed by the Government Securities Act and Regulations.

Minimum Export Price requirement conditions export permission on meeting a revised FOB MEP threshold under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Substitutes the Para 2 entry under "Nature of Restriction" for the relevant item so that export is permitted only if the Minimum Export Price (MEP) is met on an FOB basis; the notification replaces the prior MEP threshold with the newly specified FOB MEP and takes effect immediately under powers of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and relevant Foreign Trade Policy provisions.

Appointment of Development Commissioner: Director, STPI Chennai designated to oversee specified SEZ and report to Department of Commerce.
The Director, Software Technology Parks of India, Chennai is appointed as Development Commissioner of the Special Economic Zone under Section 11 of the SEZ Act, with the SEZ identified as Tril Infopark Limited in Chennai for IT and IT-enabled services. The Development Commissioner must follow instructions of the Central Government, Department of Commerce and the Board of Approval, send prescribed periodic reports, and is responsible to the Department of Commerce for actions taken; personal service matters remain governed by the Department of Information Technology and the Software Technology Parks of India.

Deemed Inland Container Depot status granted to IT/ITES Special Economic Zone, enabling customs treatment from the appointed date.
The Central Government, exercising powers under the Special Economic Zone Act, appointed the information technology and information technology enabled services SEZ at Kanagam and Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai developed by M/s. Tril Infopark Limited to be deemed an Inland Container Depot under the Customs Act from the specified appointed date.

Approval Committee constitution for IT/ITES Special Economic Zone established, setting prescribed ex officio membership and developer invitee.
Constitutes an Approval Committee for the IT and ITES Special Economic Zone at specified villages in Chennai developed by M/s. Tril Infopark Limited, established under the Central Government's SEZ authority. The Committee's composition is prescribed: the Development Commissioner as Chairperson (ex officio); senior officers from commerce, foreign trade, customs/central excise, income tax, and banking divisions as ex officio members; state industrial and industries secretariat representatives as ex officio members; and a developer representative as special invitee, reflecting territorial tax and customs jurisdiction and central-state coordination.

Special Economic Zone designation confirms sector specific IT/ITES SEZ approval and notification for designated Chennai survey areas.
Notification designates specified land parcels at Kanagam (Mambalam Guindy Taluk) and Tiruvanmiyur (Mylapore Triplicane Taluk), Chennai District, as a sector specific Special Economic Zone for information technology and IT enabled services following approval of M/s. Tril Infopark Limited under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005; the Central Government, exercising powers under Section 4(1) of the Act and rule 8 of the SEZ Rules, 2006, lists the survey numbers, parcel details and total area for the SEZ.

De-notification of Special Economic Zone: prior SEZ notification rescinded, subject to actions taken before rescission.
De-notification of a sector specific Special Economic Zone for information technology and IT enabled services is effected by rescission of the earlier notification that had designated 10.021 hectares at 15, Shivaji Marg as an SEZ. The rescission is taken under powers conferred by the Special Economic Zones Act and Rules, following the developer's proposal and government approval, and expressly rescinds Government of India notification S.O. 1453(E) dated 16th June, 2008, except as to things done or omitted before such rescission.

Import prohibition on toys unless accompanied by certificates proving conformity to specified safety standards and independent lab testing.
Temporary import prohibition on toys under ITC (HS) Codes 9501-9503 is imposed until further orders, with an exception allowing imports only when accompanied by: a certificate of conformity to specified safety standards (ASTM F963, ISO 8124 Parts I-III, IS 9873 Parts I-III, or EN 71) and a manufacturer's Certificate of Conformance linking the consignment to representative samples tested by an independent laboratory accredited under ILAC/MRA and found to meet those specifications.

Appreciation Certificate awards to customs and enforcement personnel recognizing meritorious service and distinguished records under prescribed awards scheme.
Appreciation Certificates are awarded to specified officers of Customs & Central Excise, Central Bureau of Narcotics and the Enforcement Directorate in two categories: exceptionally meritorious service rendered at the risk of life and specially distinguished record of service, with named recipients across ranks and units. The awards are made under the governing awards scheme cited in the notification as the legal basis for grant of such certificates, as amended from time to time.

Scientific research approval: Institute approved under income-tax provision subject to research-use and audit compliance requirements.
Approval is granted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India as an approved institution for scientific research expenditure under clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 35, effective 1-4-2006, subject to conditions: sums must be used for social science research; research must be conducted by faculty or enrolled students; separate books for research funds must be maintained and audited by a qualified accountant with the audit report furnished to the tax authority by the return due date; and a certified statement of donations and applications for research must accompany the audit report. Approval may be withdrawn for specified failures or noncompliance.

Approval of scientific research institution requires use of funds for research and audited accounts with donor statement supplied to tax authority.
Approval is granted to World Wide Fund for Nature - India as an approved scientific research association under clause (ii) of section 35(1) read with rules 5C and 5E, subject to conditions: funds must be used for scientific research; research conducted by faculty or enrolled students; separate books of account for research receipts and expenditures must be maintained and audited by a defined accountant; the audit report and a certified statement of donations and amounts applied to research must be furnished to the tax authority by the return filing due date. Approval may be withdrawn for failures in record keeping, reporting, genuineness of research activity, or compliance with the statutory provisions.