Notifications & Circulars
Press Information Bureau
24.05.2018
Commercial
Commerce Minister Releases Strategy Paper on Computer Software and Electronics Exports
MANU/PIBU/0869/2018
The Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu releasing the strategy paper & business plan of India's Computer Software & ITeS and Electronics Export, prepared by Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council in New Delhi
Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) has prepared a strategy paper for augmenting software exports to US$ 178 billion by 2022. Union Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, released the strategy paper in New Delhi yesterday. The Minister praised the efforts by the ESC for taking this initiative to prepare a strategy for boosting India's computer software & ITeS and electronics export. The Minister further added that Government of India will extend all possible support to the industry for intensifying the exports to traditional markets and to make forays into the alternate markets like Africa, Latin America and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He said that the government is taking proactive steps for making ICT exports more vibrant and to motivate more units to focus on exports.
The strategy paper highlights the need for some policy level changes that are critically needed, such as resolving visa problems with the US, greater access of professionals to European countries, early signing of Totalisation Agreement with the US, setting up of incubation centres and language proficiency facilities in major IT hubs. The current business model for export of software and ITeS is relevant for outsourcing work. For the emerging markets like Africa and Middle East, a different model, is required since India mostly offers product solutions. Although potential for export of software & ITeS in US and Europe is high, the smaller companies are grossly under performing because of innovation and technology leadership gaps. The paper also spells out specific policy prescriptions, market destinations and other enabling inputs that can bring about transformational changes in the Indian software and services exports. Specific suggestions include judiciously blending software and hardware, creating newer export outlets, fiscal incentives, country specific software export promotion measures.
Tags : Strategy Paper Release Electronics Exports
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Press Information Bureau
24.05.2018
Education
University Grants Commission has approved UGC (Online Courses) Regulations, 2018 as landmark reform in the field of Higher Education
MANU/PIBU/0867/2018
Higher Educational Institutions can now offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes in full-fledged online mode in line with their regular programs.
In a landmark reform in the field of Higher Education, University Grants Commission has approved UGC (Online Courses) Regulations, 2018 in its meeting held on 24th May, 2018. Higher Educational Institutions can offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes in full-fledged online mode in only those disciplines in which it has already been offering the same or similar Programmes /Courses at graduation level in regular mode (of classroom teaching) or in Open and Distance Learning mode and from which at least one batch has been graduated and approved by the statutory councils, as applicable. Online Programmes requiring Practical/ Laboratory Courses as a curricular requirement shall not be permitted. The Examinations shall be conducted in proctored mode and in conformity with any norms for such examinations stipulated by the commission. The online learning shall have minimum four quadrants: video lectures, e- content, self-assessment and discussion forum to clarify doubts.
The Higher Educational Institutions will be eligible to offer Online Programmes if they have been in existence for at least five years and are accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a valid minimum score of 3.26 on a 4-point scale; and should be in the top-100 in overall category in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for at least two years in the previous three years. However, NAAC and NIRF conditions shall not be applicable to existing government Open Universities till NAAC or similar accreditation system or NIRF are made available.
Aadhaar and Passport shall be used to authenticate the Indian and foreign students respectively for all online interactions including teaching-learning and examinations. The learners' engagement will be monitored via participation in asynchronous / synchronous discussions, assignment activity and Programme involvement. The analytics of Learning Management System shall be used for ensuring the learner's participation at least for 2 hours every fortnight.
Overall Regulations provide enabling provisions for maintaining sanctity of admissions, teaching-learning, examination, authenticity of the learner and mandatory disclosure of Programme-wise information such as duration, start & end dates, fee, number of students, name of students with identifier, results, on HEI website/public domain. These regulations will be made applicable from the academic session 2018-19. This initiative is a big step towards attaining the targeted GER of 30% by the year 2020.
Tags : Online courses Regulations Approval
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Press Information Bureau
24.05.2018
Goods and Services Tax
Arrest made by Central Tax, Delhi East Commissionerate involving GST evasion of Rs. 28 Crore
MANU/PIBU/0866/2018
Central Tax, GST Delhi East Commissionerate arrested a Shahdara based father son-duo on 22.05.2018 in case of fraudulent issuance of Input Tax Credit invoices involving evasion of approximately Rs. 28 Crores relating to Copper industry. It is the first case of arrest in Delhi, under the new tax regime that came into force on 1st July, 2017.
Searches were conducted at several places during which various incriminating documents and evidence were found. Investigation that followed revealed involvement of the father and son. Both were arrested under Section 69 (1) of CGST Act and Hon'ble CMM, Patiala House remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days.
As per Section 132 of the CGST Act, issuance of an invoice or bill without supply of goods and wrongful availment or utilization of input tax credit is a cognizable and non-bailable offence if the amount involved is over Rs. 5 Crores. Further investigations are underway and the quantum of evasion is likely to go up. Officers are not ruling out the possibility existence of several other fake firms as the investigation moves ahead.
Tags : Evasion GST Arrest
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Press Information Bureau
24.05.2018
Goods and Services Tax
Roll out of e-Way Bill system for intra-State movement of goods in the Maharashtra, Manipur and Union Territories (without legislature)
MANU/PIBU/0870/2018
As per the decision of the GST Council, e-Way Bill system for inter-State movement of goods has been rolled out from 1st April, 2018. As on 23rd May, 2018, e-Way Bill system for intra-State movement of goods has been rolled out in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Union Territory of Puducherry. E-Way Bills are getting generated successfully and till 23rd May, 2018 more than five crore and thirty lakh e-Way Bills have been successfully generated which includes more than one crore and sixty lakh e-Way Bills for intra-State movement of goods.
It is informed that e-Way Bill system for intra-State movement of goods would be implemented from 25th May, 2018 in the following States / Union Territories :-
i. Maharashtra
ii. Manipur
iii. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
iv. Chandigarh
v. Dadra & Nagar Haveli
vi. Daman & Diu
vii. Lakshadweep
Twenty seven States / Union Territories would have implemented the e-Way Bill system for intra-State movement of goods with the roll-out of the same on 25th May, 2018. Registration/enrolment on e-Way Bill portal namely https://www.ewaybillgst.gov.in may be taken at earliest in the remaining States as well since the same would soon be rolled out in these States also. The system is working smoothly and without any glitches. On an average twelve lakh e-way bills are being generated every day. Trade and industry may approach their respective tax authority for any guidance in this matter. Further, it is informed that trade should get well versed with respect to the provisions of the e-Way Bill rules in order to avoid any difficulty. The provisions of rule 138D of Central / State GST Rules, 2017 may be referred to for any grievance redressal.
Tags : Roll out E-Way Bill Movement Goods
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Ministry of Commerce and Industry
22.05.2018
Commercial
Clarification regarding actual service providers rendering eligible services to be entitled for the SFIS/SEIS benefits or the aggregator of services (Ports)
MANU/DGFT/0076/2018
1. This Directorate has received references from exporters providing port related services seeking clarification whether the actual service providers rendering the eligible services should be entitled for the SFIS/SEIS benefits or the aggregator of services (Ports).
2. The issue has been examined in this Directorate in the light of the applicable FTP Provisions and through inter-ministerial consultations as well as opinion received from Ministry of Law and Justice.
3. It is clarified that the actual Service Providers (and not Ports) are eligible for SFIS/SEIS benefit in respect of their share of earnings made by performing the notified services under SFIS/SEIS Scheme.
4. The aggregator of services (Ports) shall be entitled for benefits under SFIS/SEIS for services exclusively rendered by them and for which the foreign exchange earnings (or INR payments as allowed under the scheme) are received and retained by them on this account. The Ports cannot claim benefits to the extent of free foreign exchange earnings (or INR payments as allowed under the scheme) simply routed through them as receipt of service charges with regard to services rendered by other actual service providers.
5. It should be ensured that there is no double claim by the aggregator (Port) and the actual service providers.
6. This issue with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Tags : Clarification Actual service providers Eligible services Benefits
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Ministry of Commerce and Industry
22.05.2018
Commercial
Maintenance of Annual Average Export Obligation
MANU/DGFT/0077/2018
In exercise of the powers conferred under Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2015-20, the Director General of Foreign Trade in Public interest hereby makes the following amendments in Hand Book of Procedures 2015-20:
After para 5.19, a new para 5.19A be inserted as under:-
5.19A : Maintenance of Annual Average Export Obligation
The excess exports done towards the average export obligation fulfilment of an EPCG authorization during a year can be used to offset any shortfall in the Average EO done in other year(s) of the EO period or the block period as the case may be provided Average EO imposed is maintained on an overall basis, within the block period or the EO period as applicable.
2. Effect of this Public Notice:
Condonation from non-maintenance of Annual Average in some year(s) offset by excess exports in other year(s) in respect of EPCG authorisations has been granted.
Tags : Export Obligation Maintenance
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Ministry of Commerce and Industry
22.05.2018
Commercial
Quota allotted under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement: Minutes of the Meeting dated 9.5.2018
MANU/DGFT/0078/2018
Reference is invited to the Minutes of the Meeting dated 9.5.2018 under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement as uploaded on the DGFT's website (Copy as below). In the matter the following may be noted:
1. Applicants have to complete their import before 31 March, 2019. Accordingly, import license will be issued by RAs with end date 31st March, 2019. The allotted quota, if not imported, the allottees will be black listed for next three financial years. The applicants may surrender their quota by 30th May, 2018 if they cannot utilize the quota. They can surrender their import quota by indicating their details at importdgft@nic.in till 5.00 pm of 30th May, 2015.
2. The surrendered quota will be distributed among eligible applicants.
3. The applicants for Pepper and Vanaspathi may file their grievances, if any on the issue of allotment of quota proposed in the minutes below by 30th May, 2018. This would include all those whose applications were rejected for reasons as mentioned in the minutes as below.
4. Quota quantity (already allotted) may undergo changes after addressing grievances of the individual applicants. RAs are advised to issue licenses only after the revised minutes are uploaded on DGFT's website.
Tags : Quota Allotment Free Trade Agreement
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