Conversion of preference shares into equity not treated as transfer, changing capital gains treatment from assessment year 2018-19.
The Finance Bill, 2017 adds a new clause excluding conversion of preference shares into equity of the same company from the definition of transfer for capital gains purposes. This amendment, aligning preference-share conversion with existing non-transfer treatment for bond or debenture conversions, takes effect from 1 April 2018 and applies to assessment year 2018-19 onward.

Capital gains exemption for non resident rupee bonds: transfers outside India between non residents not treated as transfer.
The Bill inserts a provision that any transfer made outside India of a capital asset consisting of a rupee denominated bond of an Indian company issued outside India, where both transferor and transferee are non residents, shall not be regarded as transfer for capital gains purposes; this change complements existing non recognition for conversion of bonds into shares and applies prospectively from the operative year specified in the Bill.