Testing of specified customs goods is authorised through FSSAI-notified outside laboratories for six months from 16 June 2021. Animal feed additives and premixes, and extra virgin edible-grade oil, may be tested at the identified laboratories. Under section 145 of the Customs Act, 1962, the importer or owner must bear the testing cost. Implementation directions operate as a standing order for customs officers and staff.

Exercise of the special-procedure power under section 148 of the Delhi Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, substitutes 31 August 2023 for 30 June 2023 as the date stipulated under Notification No. 03/2023-State Tax. Although issued on 20 October 2023, the amended deadline is deemed effective from 30 June 2023.

Electronic processing through the CRCL module in ICES is mandatory for forwarding customs sample test memos to CRCL and other Revenue Laboratories. The module records sample drawal, transmits test memos, enables laboratory acknowledgment and testing, captures test reports, and allows Customs officers to view reports electronically. Laboratories may reject inadequate samples for specified deficiencies. Paper test memos are not ordinarily accepted, except where an unforeseen system issue prevents electronic processing and approval is obtained from the Additional or Joint Commissioner of Customs.

The time limit specified under Notification No. 06/2023-State Tax is extended by substituting 31 August 2023 for 30 June 2023. The substituted deadline is deemed operative from 30 June 2023, and references to the earlier deadline in the relevant framework stand replaced accordingly.

VR LIVIN Ventures LLP launched 'THE FIRST', an 83-villa gated residential community in Madhavaram, North Chennai, which recorded sales of 20 villas during its first two launch days. The development includes smart-home villas and more than 50 lifestyle amenities, with access to nearby metro connectivity and social infrastructure. It forms part of the company's intended expansion of residential projects in Chennai and other South Indian locations.

Custodians and terminal operators must electronically submit stuffing and stripping reports wherever cargo is segregated or stuffed into containers, identifying the relevant primary or master cargo identification numbers for each equipment. They must also report actual conveyance arrival and departure events; terminal operators additionally file voyage call numbers and equipment landed or loaded details. Stuffing messages, ASR, DP and AR filings by custodians, and voyage call number messages by terminal operators, become mandatory from 20 July 2021, while parallel carrier filing continues during the transitional period.

Electronic commerce operators collecting tax at source must follow a special procedure for goods supplied through them by composition taxpayers. They must not allow inter-State supplies of goods by such persons. Operators must collect and remit tax at source on these supplies and electronically report the supply details in FORM GSTR-8 on the common portal. The procedure applies from 1 October 2023.

Certificate of Origin declarations for preferential duty claims are subject to an electronic check preventing reuse of the same certificate number in more than one Bill of Entry where the applicable trade agreement limits the certificate to one import or importing operation. Assessing and examining officers must match the declared number with the submitted certificate copy. The same certificate number may be used for multiple items in a single Bill of Entry.

Delhi GST exemption provisions insert a nil-rate entry for services supplied to a Governmental Authority relating to water supply, public health, sanitation conservancy, solid waste management, and slum improvement and upgradation. References to the Department of Posts in specified exemption entries are expanded to include the Ministry of Railways (Indian Railways). The amendments take effect from 20 October 2023.

Comprehensive stakeholder consultation is initiated for review of specified customs duty exemption notifications and entries. Older exemptions are being examined to identify provisions that may have become outdated or redundant and may require modification or rescission, with the objective of establishing a revised customs duty structure free from distortions. Importers, exporters, domestic industry, trade associations and the public may submit suggestions and supporting justification through the MyGov Innovate platform in the prescribed format.

Delhi GST refund provisions are amended by replacing the opening reference to specified Schedule II services with construction of a complex, building or part thereof intended for sale, where consideration includes land or an undivided share of land. Transactions in which the entire consideration is received after the completion certificate, where required, or after first occupation, whichever is earlier, are excluded. The amendment takes effect from 20 October 2023.

Faceless customs assessment is streamlined through enhanced Risk Management System facilitation, a three-query limit for each Bill of Entry, and specialised commodity-based Faceless Assessment Groups. Uniform automated examination orders are introduced, while First Check Bills of Entry are routed to assessment only after upload of the examination report. An Anonymised Escalation Mechanism on ICEGATE permits importers and Customs Brokers to seek expedited clearance where assessment or examination remains pending beyond one working day, with automated routing, supervisory monitoring and status updates.

Direct Port Delivery is available for full-container-load consignments under advance-filed Bills of Entry that are fully facilitated and require neither assessment nor examination. Eligible IEC holders must register with the port container terminal, obtain a unique DPD code, and submit a One Time Default Intimation selecting DPD delivery or a preferred container freight station. Changes to that preference must be made at least 72 hours before vessel arrival. Electronic cargo messages identify DPD-ready containers and applicable scanning requirements for terminal handling and movement.

Delhi Goods and Services Tax special-procedure framework is amended under section 148 by substituting, in paragraph 4, the reference to 1 April 2024 with 15 May 2024. The substituted date applies with effect from 1 April 2024, giving the amendment retrospective commencement from that date.

GST registration applications in Form GST REG-01 are subject to biometric-based Aadhaar authentication, applicant photography, and verification of original documents corresponding to uploaded records. A GST Registration Seva Kendra operates as the designated Facilitation Centre for these functions under the administrative jurisdiction of the Central Registration Cell, with jurisdiction throughout the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The arrangement takes effect from 6 September 2024.

GST rationalisation for amusement park, water park and indoor entertainment admission tickets is sought through a flat 5% GST rate without Input Tax Credit. The proposed rate is intended to reduce ticket prices, improve affordability and increase customer demand in a capital-intensive tourism and entertainment sector. Many smaller and mid-sized operators report limited ability to offset GST liability through ITC. Lower taxation is projected to support facility expansion, revenue growth, new investment, employment and reinvestment in recreational services.

Version 2.0 of the AEO web application enables registration, annexure uploads, real-time application monitoring, online deficiency responses, and digital certification for AEO T2 and T3 applicants. Physical documents must be submitted to the jurisdictional AEO Cell before portal registration and uploads. Existing AEO T1 status holders applying for T2 may use existing credentials. Physical filing without registration is transitional until 31 July 2021; portal registration is mandatory for AEO T2 and T3 certification from 1 August 2021. Earlier applications may continue manually unless migrated without delaying certification.

After a correct and complete EGM is filed, ICES will transmit drawback shipping bills to RMS. RMS treatment will determine whether a shipping bill is facilitated for drawback processing without intervention or routed to the proper Customs officer for further action. Shipping bills selected for officer intervention will remain subject to the necessary drawback checks. The existing procedure for crediting duty drawback amounts to exporters' accounts remains unchanged.

Re-import of goods exported for overseas repair attracts IGST and applicable compensation cess on the fair repair cost, including materials, and insurance and freight for both outward and return movements. Concessions limit customs duty and tax to amounts calculated on this repair-related value rather than the full value of the goods. The clarification confirms that IGST is leviable on this basis, including for the period before clarificatory amendments.

Delhi GST reverse-charge liability provisions are amended by limiting the recipient class at serial number 4: "Any person" excludes a body corporate. At serial number 5AB, "Any registered person" excludes a person who has opted to pay tax under the composition levy. The exclusions refine the classes of recipients covered by the respective reverse-charge entries.