Exchange rate determination sets differing import and export currency conversion rates effective for customs valuation from August.
The notification prescribes conversion rates for specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees, with distinct rates for imported and export goods, effective from 3rd August, 2018, superseding the prior exchange rate notification except for prior acts. Rates are set out in two schedules-per unit equivalents in Schedule I and a 100 unit equivalent in Schedule II-and apply for customs valuation and conversion in cross border goods transactions.

Anti-dumping duty continuation on methylene chloride extended following review recommendation, keeping existing measures in force.
The Central Government, acting under sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act and rule 23 of the Anti-dumping Rules, inserts a paragraph in Notification No.24/2014-Customs (ADD) to keep the anti-dumping duty on imports of methylene chloride from the European Union and the United States of America in force, notwithstanding paragraph 2, pursuant to the designated authority's review recommendation.

Special Economic Zone expansion: additional land notified for a biotechnology SEZ, increasing its total notified area.
The Central Government notified an additional 4.1925 hectares for the biotechnology Special Economic Zone at Manjari Budruk, Pune, increasing the total notified SEZ area to 21.2826 hectares. The inclusion, proposed by M/s. SEZ Bio Tech Services Private Limited and approved by the Central Government, was effected under the statutory notification authority derived from the Special Economic Zones Act and SEZ Rules. The notification enumerates the survey parcel numbers and hectare measurements comprising the added area.

Appointment to Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling: Commissioner/Secretary (Tax, Excise and Narcotics) designated as member under Section 99.
The State Government, under the State Goods and Services Tax enactment, appoints the Commissioner / Secretary (Tax, Excise and Narcotics) as a member of the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling, integrating a senior tax administration official into the authority's membership by formal state notification.

Appellate authority routes set for GST decisions, prescribing officer-specific appellate forums and distinct appeal time limits.
Substituted Rule 109A establishes the appellate hierarchy for appeals under the State and Central GST Acts: aggrieved persons may appeal to the Commissioner against orders of the Additional Commissioner (State Taxes), to the Additional Commissioner (Appeals) against orders of the Joint Commissioner (State Taxes), and to the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) against orders of the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner or State Tax Officer, within three months of communication; officers directed under section 107(2) may file analogous appeals within six months. The amendment is effective from publication in the official Gazette.

Companies Amendment Act commencement: Section 36 appointed to come into force on 31 July 2018.
The Central Government, exercising the commencement provision of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2017, notified 31 July 2018 as the date on which the specified amendment provision shall come into force, via a Ministry of Corporate Affairs notification signed by an authorized official.

Board's Report requirements expanded to mandate cost-records and harassment-committee disclosures and abridged reporting for very small companies.
The amendment expands Board's Report disclosures to require disclosure about maintenance of Central Government-specified cost records and compliance with constitution of an Internal Complaints Committee, exempts One Person Companies and Small Companies from the original rule, and inserts Rule 8A prescribing an abridged standalone-based Board's Report for those entities listing specific required items including web address of annual return, board meetings, Directors' Responsibility Statement, auditor-reported frauds, explanations for auditor qualifications, state of affairs, financial highlights, material post-year-end changes, director appointment/resignation details, significant regulator or tribunal orders, and related-party particulars in Form AOC-2.

Tariff value fixation establishes benchmark import values for selected commodities affecting customs valuation and import clearance.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs amends the principal customs notification by substituting TABLEs 1-3 to fix tariff values in US dollars per metric tonne or per unit for specified imports. The substituted tables set commodity-specific benchmark import values for edible oils, brass scrap, poppy seeds, areca nuts, and unit values for gold and silver where specified concessional entries are availed, making these benchmarks the operative reference for customs valuation at import clearance.

Recognised stock exchange status requires SEBI approval and strict recordkeeping, audit trail, and reporting obligations.
Recognised stock exchange status is conferred on NSE IFSC Limited for derivative trading, subject to SEBI approval and adherence to SEBI guidelines. The exchange must record and store client particulars including unique client identity number and PAN, maintain a complete seven-year audit trail of derivative transactions, ensure transactions once registered are not erased, permit modifications only for genuine errors while retaining data on modifications, and submit monthly Form No. 3BB to the Director General of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation) within fifteen days from the month end. Recognition continues until SEBI approval is withdrawn or expires and may be rescinded for violations.

Recognised stock exchange status granted subject to SEBI approval and data, audit trail and reporting obligations.
Notification under Section 43 and Rule 6DDB designates India International Exchange (IFSC) Limited as a recognised stock exchange for derivatives, conditional on SEBI approval and adherence to SEBI guidelines; mandatory recording and storage of client particulars including UCI and PAN; retention of a complete audit trail of derivative transactions for seven years; prohibition on erasure of registered transactions; modifications only for genuine errors with records maintained; and monthly submission of Form No. 3BB to the Director General of Income-tax within fifteen days of month-end. The notification lasts until SEBI approval is withdrawn or expires, and violations may lead to rescission.

Recognition under Regulation 4: clearing corporation authorised for a limited term subject to SEBI compliance conditions.
Grant of recognition under Regulation 4 to Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation Limited for a limited one-year term, issued under powers conferred by the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, and made expressly subject to compliance with conditions specified by SEBI and any additional conditions that may be prescribed or imposed subsequently.

Removal of sub broker provisions streamlines stock broker regulations by omitting specified chapters, clauses and forms.
Amendment omits all references to sub-brokers and subbroker language from the principal stock-brokers regulations, deletes Chapter III, removes specified clauses (including parts of Regulation 2(1), Regulation 17(1), Regulation 18B, Regulation 26(xiv), Schedule III clause II) and excises Form B, Form C and Form CA from Schedule I, together with certain return related text in Schedule II; Regulation 27 is amended to delete qualifying words and the phrase "or sub-broker", effecting a streamlined regulatory scope focused solely on stock brokers.

Appointment of Whole Time Member: Shri Anant Barua appointed for a fixed term, subject to resignation and age limit.
The Central Government appoints Shri Anant Barua to the post of Whole Time Member on immediate absorption, subject to his resignation from the existing post. The appointment is for three years from assumption of charge, but will terminate earlier on attaining the age of sixty-five years or upon further orders. The post carries pay equivalent to that admissible to an Additional Secretary to the Government of India or a consolidated monthly salary specified in the notification.

Extension of Return Filing Deadline for Input Service Distributors allows additional time to furnish FORM GSTR-6 returns.
The Commissioner extends the time limit under section 39(4) read with rule 65 of the Nagaland Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, allowing Input Service Distributors to furnish FORM GSTR-6 for the specified months up to the newly prescribed final date; this notification supersedes the prior notification except insofar as past actions are concerned.

Extension of filing deadline for Input Service Distributors to furnish FORM GSTR 6 for earlier tax periods.
Extends the time limit for furnishing returns by input service distributors in FORM GSTR-6 for the months of July, 2017 to August, 2018 until the 30th day of September, 2018, exercised under sub section (6) of section 39 read with rule 65, and superseding the earlier notification dated 1st June, 2018 insofar as it relates to the extended filing period while preserving prior actions.

Sea cargo manifest compliance commencement was deferred, moving the effective date for the principal regulations to November 2018.
Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment compliance commencement under the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018 was deferred by amendment. The previously specified commencement date was substituted, so that the principal Regulations would take effect on 1 November 2018 rather than 1 August 2018. The amendment came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.

Extension of time for Input Service Distributors to file FORM GSTR-6 granted, superseding prior notification.
Extension of filing deadline for returns by an Input Service Distributor in FORM GSTR-6 is granted by the Commissioner under the Sikkim GST framework, covering returns for the period from July of the first GST year through August of the following year, and superseding an earlier notification except as to things done or omitted before supersession.

Extension of GSTR-6 filing deadline grants Input Service Distributors additional time to furnish returns under CGST rules.
The Commissioner extends the time for furnishing FORM GSTR-6 by Input Service Distributors for the periods July 2017 to August 2018 until 30 September 2018, issued under powers conferred by the Central Goods and Services Tax Act; the notification supersedes an earlier notification of 31 May 2018 while saving prior actions or omissions.

Extension of return filing deadline for Input Service Distributors allows additional time to file FORM GSTR-6.
Extension granted for furnishing returns by an Input Service Distributor in FORM GSTR-6 for the months July 2017 to August 2018, issued under the statutory powers for return filing and state GST administration, superseding an earlier notification while preserving prior actions; the Commissioner of State Tax set the extended final date applicable to FORM GSTR-6 under the West Bengal GST rules and act provisions cited.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointed to assume adjudication powers for a specified customs show cause notice.
Appointment of a Common Adjudicating Authority by the Director General, Revenue Intelligence to exercise adjudicatory powers under the Customs Act in place of an originally specified proper officer. The notification lists the noticee, show cause notice reference, erstwhile adjudicating authority and names the Additional Director General (Adjudication), DRI, Mumbai, as the officer appointed to adjudicate the specified show cause notice against Sh. Yusuf R. Dhanani.