• DGFT

Policy Circular No. 54 (RE-08)/2004-2009 Dated 09.01.2009-Import of Restricted Items Under Advance Authorization Scheme

It has been clarified that import of restricted items for export production under Advance Authorisation Scheme is permitted, unless otherwise specifically provided, wherein inputs always remain under actual user condition even after completion of export obligation.

Policy Circular No. 53 (RE-08)/2004-2009 Dated 09.01.2009- Guidelines for import of Rough / unprocessed Blocks and Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones for the year 2008-09

DGFT Amends Guidelines for import of Rough / unprocessed Blocks and Slabs of agglomerated / artificial stones for the year 2008-09, while amending policy circulars previously issued. Consequently, provisions regarding floor price has been amended, whereby floor price which shall be endorsed on all licences are provided.

Notification No. 80/(RE-2008)/2004-2009 Dated 16.01.2009- Amendment to the Specified Notifications

DGFT Vide amendment to the specified notifications, substitutes provision relating to non applicability of ban on export of non-basmati rice, whereby ban on export of non-basmati rice will not be applicable on the Nigeria, Senegal , Ghana , Cameron subject to the conditions provided therein.

Public Notice No.135/(RE-2008)/2004-2009 Dated 15.01.2009-Amendments to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. 1 (RE 2008)

DGFT Vide amendment to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. 1 (RE 2008) Add new Appendix 30 A pertaining to Export Obligation Period for Specified Inputs and takes away the provision providing that Facility of extension of EOP shall not be allowed in case of Advance Authorisation wherein import of penicillin and its salts have been allowed as and also for import of spices and tea.

• INDIRECT TAXATION

Excise

CBEC Excise Instruction From File No. 224/ 37/2005-CX-6 Dated 24.12.2008 -Duties, functions and responsibilities of Range Officers and Sector Officers- reg

CBEC issues duty list pertaining functions, responsibilities and duties to be performed by Range Officers and Sector Officers under the Central Excise Act, 1944, with a view of consolidating these duties at one place. This duty list is only indicative and not exhaustive consisting of work relating to registration, scrutiny of returns, export of goods, audit, etc. and separate duty list regarding work relating to EOUs and Private Customs Bonded Warehouses shall be issued separately.

Custom

Circular No. 1/2009 Dated 13.01.2009 -Examination norms for goods exported under Reward Schemes- reg

CBEC has decided that exports made on Free Shipping Bills, where the exporter is claiming benefits of Schemes Chapter 3 of the FTP by declaring on the Free Shipping Bills shall be subjected to the specified examination norms and benefit claimed under Drawback / DEPB or any other scheme shall be subjected to the examination norms as prescribed by the Board for the respective export promotion schemes. The existing norms of "no examination except where there is specific intelligence" would continue to apply, If the exports are made on free shipping bill without any declaration of any claim under Chapter 3 of FTP.

Circular No. 2/2009 Dated 15.01.2009 -Classification of footwear having uppers of a combination of leather and synthetic/textile material under Chapter 64 of the Drawback Schedule, 2008-09

It has been clarified by the CBEC that a footwear can be classified under the Drawback Schedule tariff item 6403 considered upper to be of leather, if the predominant constituent in the upper of footwear is of leather and the outer soles of the footwear are of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather. The description of the goods and the scope of various sub-tariff items forms the basis for further sub-classification under the heading 6403. Only such footwear which cannot be classified under tariff items 6401, 6402, 6403 and 6404 of the Drawback Schedule are to be classified under the tariff item 6405.

• PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Dated 09.01.2009 - Amendments to the National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions Act 2004 (NCMEI Act)

The Minority Educational Institutions was constituted with the objective to ensure that the members of the notified religious minority communities receives the true amplitude of the educational rights enshrined in Article 30(1) of the Constitution. In line with the suggestion and recommendations received by the cabinet, it has been decided to amend the Act to remove the practical difficulties faced by the Commission.

• TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA

Press Release No. 03/2009 Dated 09.01.2009 -TRAI releases Consultation Paper on Lock-in period for Promoter's Equity and Other Related Issues for Unified Access Service Licensees (UASL)

TRAI releases consultation paper on Lock-in period for Promoter's Equity for Unified Access Service Licensees (UASL) and other related issues addressing the issues concerning market economics, as current licensing regime does not provide any direct and specific provisions on lock-in of equity shareholding and increase of equity and operators have entered in the market to tap its immense and ever increasing potential, making windfall gains through financial restructuring.

Press Release No. 06/2009 Dated 14.01.2009 -TRAI releases Draft Recommendations on new measures for Growth of Value Added Services

In order to ensure quality of content, consumer education and transparency in the value added services provided by the telecom operators and value added service providers, TRAI has released Draft Recommendations on new measures for Growth of Value Added Services. The Authority does not envisage any separate category of licence for value added services, but at the same time insist on uniformity in various licenses and amendment of various access service licence agreements.

Notification No. 1-32/2008-B&CS Dated : 26.12.2008 - Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Third) (CAS Areas) Tariff (Third Amendment) Order, 2008

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India issues Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Third) (CAS Areas) Tariff (Third Amendment) Order, 2008, which shall come into force on the 1st day of January, 2009. Consequently, the ceilings on charges for basic tier have been increased from Rs. 77/-to Rs. 82/-(excluding taxes) and the ceilings on the maximum retail price per pay channel per month have been increased from Rs. 5/- to Rs. 5.35/- (excluding taxes).

• MINISTRY CORPORATE AFFAIRS

Notification No. GSR11(E) Dated 05.01.2009 -Companies (Appointment and Qualifications of Secretary) Amendment Rules, 2009

Central Government put in place the provision with respect to appointment of the a whole-time company secretary by a company having a paid up share capital of two crore rupees or more but less than five crore rupees Vide amendment to the Companies (Appointment and Qualifications of Secretary) Rules, 1988.