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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
SEZ Amendment Rules 2025: Targeted and swifter approach
The recent Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Rules, 2025 (notified by the ministry of commerce and industry on June 3, 2025) introduces targeted relaxations and operational reforms, with the objective to address the specialised needs of semiconductor and electronics component manufacturing sectors. Amendment (Representative file photo) Due to its functionality in modern equipment, it is expected that the semiconductor industry shall increase investment in semiconductor and electronic parts manufacturing. In 2021, the Indian Government introduced the $10 billion Semicon India Programme to strengthen the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, supporting display fabrication and building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem. Thus, certain ease of norms has been extended specially to promote this critical sector by virtue of amendments to the SEZ Rules via the 2025 Amendment Rules. The key amendments are: Reduced land requirement for semiconductor SEZs--The amendment introduces a sector-specific relaxation by reducing the minimum land requirement for SEZ exclusively set up for the manufacturing of semiconductors or electronic components to 10 hectares. This is a pivotal change from the earlier blanket requirement of 50 hectares for manufacturing SEZ or 25 hectares in some states. The accompanying explanation further broadens the scope to include a wide array of electric components which are – 'display module sub-assembly, camera module sub-assembly, battery sub-assembly, various types of other module sub-assemblies, printed circuit board, li-ion cells for batteries, mobile and information technology hardware components, hearables and wearables.' This measure will facilitate the participation from smaller players and regional investors Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) computation for semiconductor units and developers. The amended rules allow the value of goods received and supplied on a FOC basis to be included in NFE calculations for units providing manufacturing services. This becomes a facilitative change given that, in the semiconductor manufacturing sector, typically components are imported by overseas clients and the SEZ unit is paid only for the processing or assembly services. Relaxation on encumbrance-free land. The strict bar against encumbrances for declaration of an area to SEZ has been relaxed. Such bar would now not apply to in instances where the land is mortgaged to or leased by the central or state government, or the respective agencies. Table Reduction in minimum land requirement for textile SEZs in Gujarat. The amendment to replaces the minimum area requirement for the textiles and articles of textiles sector in Gujarat from 20 hectares to 4 hectares. The SEZ Amendment Rules 2025 are poised to benefit a broad range of companies operating in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sectors, as well as textile enterprises in Gujarat. The new rules specifically relax land requirements and offer greater operational flexibility, making it easier for manufacturers and supply chain participants in these sectors to establish and expand SEZ units. Companies engaged in the production and assembly of semiconductors, display modules, battery assemblies, printed circuit boards, IT hardware, and related components are among those that stand to gain from these regulatory changes. The amendment aligns with the government's strategic drive to position India as a global manufacturing hub, reduce dependency on imports, and integrate more deeply into global value chains The government has publicly identified two companies as direct beneficiaries through SEZ approvals under the amended rules: Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt Ltd (MSTI): Approved to set up a 37.64-hectare semiconductor SEZ in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of ₹ 13,000 crore. 13,000 crore. Hubballi Durable Goods Cluster Pvt Ltd (Aequs Group): Approved for an 11.55-hectare electronics components SEZ in Dharwad, Karnataka, with an investment of ₹ 100 crore. These approvals underscore the immediate impact of the amendments in facilitating high-capital, large-scale investments by prominent industry players. The 2025 Amendment introduces commercially relevant reforms to the SEZ framework, particularly targeting the semiconductor and electronics sectors, with an emphasis on flexibility in land norms, cross-border manufacturing models, and NFE calculations. The changes aim towards reduction of entry barriers and enable more sophisticated structuring of supply and distribution arrangements. The government's decision to proceed with targeted amendments to the SEZ Rules in 2025, while a comprehensive DESH Bill or a complete overhaul of the SEZ Act remains pending, reflects an inclination toward agile regulatory intervention, while a broader legislative reform is pending. The amendments are designed to address immediate operational challenges, especially those faced by the semiconductor and electronics industries—by enabling greater flexibility, reducing entry barriers (such as land requirements), and streamlining SEZ operations. This approach allows for swifter and more tailored solutions to sector-specific needs, rather than waiting for the protracted process associated with passing new legislation or implementing a wholesale restructuring of the existing law. This article is authored by Stella Joseph, partner and Aradhya Singh, advocate, Economic Laws Practice.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
India's highway toll collection surges 19.6% in Q1, reaching record ₹20,681.87 crore, ET Infra
Toll collection across India's highways surged 19.6 per cent to a record ₹20,681.87 crore in the first quarter of this financial year, compared to ₹17,279.86 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2024-25, on the back of low base, increase in charges and addition of new toll roads, official data showed. Advt Advt The rate of growth was more than double of 9.49 per cent in April-June per the National Electronic Toll Collection data, the number of toll users increased 16.2 per cent to 1,173.30 million in the quarter to June from 1,009.87 million a year the growth momentum sustains, toll collection could surpass ₹80,000 crore for the first time in a fiscal, adding record revenue to the government kitty. The toll collection in 2024-25 stood at ₹72,931 crore.A senior government official told ET that fast-track development of toll roads and increased economic activity are adding to toll collection."The government's focus on building and maintaining toll roads at world-class level to substantially reduce travel time and enhance user experience has significantly added to toll user base, resulting in surge in toll collection," said the official, who did not wish to be NHAI had increased toll charges by 4-5 per cent with effect from April 1, an annual exercise to revise the rates linked to the changes in the wholesale price index-based inflation."The 19.6 per cent growth is attributable to a smaller base of last year due to the general election and various state elections which led to subdued growth in the first three quarters of the calendar year," said Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, senior director and global head, consulting, CRISIL Intelligence."Going forward we should see a good growth trajectory of early teens due to new rollable roads getting added and overall uptick in the GDP (gross domestic product)."India's economy is projected to grow 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent in this the annual base rates are uniform across national highways in the country under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates & Collection) Rules, 2008, various factors such as lane configuration, length of section, length of bypasses and structures or tunnels and type of vehicle are considered in determining the rate of user fee at a fee plaza for use of a particular section of national highway, resulting in variance in toll rates.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- The Hindu
Now, objections to Tasmac shops predating new educational institutions also to be considered
The Tamil Nadu government has allowed District Collectors to consider and act on petitions that object to State-run liquor shops (better known as Tasmac shops) if they had been established prior to the establishment of any place of worship or educational institution in a locality. The Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003, was amended to this effect recently. Earlier, though there were proximity restrictions between a Tasmac shop and places of worship or educational institutions, they were applicable only if the places of worship or educational institutions had been established in a locality much before the Tasmac shop was set up there. Though no Tasmac shop was to be established in Municipal Corporations and Municipalities within 50 metres from any place of worship or educational institutions, one of the provisos to Rule 8 on 'Location of the shop' had said the provisions of this rule shall not apply 'if any place of worship, educational institution comes into existence subsequent to the establishment of the Tasmac shop'. The amended proviso said: 'However, if any representation is received objecting to the location of the shop established prior to the establishment of any educational institution within the distance as specified in sub-rule (1), the same shall be considered by the Collector on merits and orders passed thereon within a period of thirty days from the date of such representation'. As of March this year, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has 4,787 retail vending shops and 2,362 bars attached to the retail vending shops.
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Collectors must decide on plaints on Tasmac's retail liquor shop sites in 30 days
CHENNAI: The state government has notified an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, mandating the collector concerned to consider representations objecting to the location of Tasmac's retail liquor shops in close proximity to an educational institution or a place of worship and pass necessary orders based on merits within 30 days of receiving the representations. As per the details provided on the website of Commissionerate of Prohibition and Excise, setting up of liquor shops within 50 metres (in municipal corporations and municipalities) and 100 metres (in other areas) from any place of worship or educational institutions is already prohibited. However, as per the existing rules, this limit on distance shall not apply if any place of worship or an educational institution comes into existence within the defined proximity subsequent to the establishment of the shop. The new amendment provides relief from the above exemption, by empowering collectors to decide even in cases where the shops had existed prior to the establishment of an educational institution of place of worship. A senior Tasmac official told TNIE that the state has nearly 4,800 liquor retail outlets. 'We have received several complaints from the public in various districts, asking for the closure of some shops. Based on this, the government has brought in this fresh amendment.'
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pre-existing liquor shops need not be relocated: TN
Chennai: It is no longer a violation if liquor shops are in close proximity to educational or religious institutions if the schools/colleges concerned were established after the liquor shops were set up. The TN govt has amended the Liquor Retail Vending (in Shops and Bars) Rules, 2003. As per the rules, in corporations and municipalities, liquor shops must not be present within a 50-metre radius of schools, while in other local bodies, they must not be present within 100 metres of such institutions. The amendment, notified in the Tamil Nadu Govt Gazette, however, said if objections are raised by the public, the collector must examine the representation and pass an order within 30 days. tnn
