News Updates
GSTN Introduces New Online Module To Unblock Barred Returns On Portal
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has now launched a new “Application for Unbarring Returns” module on the GST Portal, allowing taxpayers to seek online removal of system-imposed restrictions on filing GST returns. The module provides a legal and digital process to address cases where returns are barred after three years of non-filing.Under Rule 59(6) of the CGST Rules, read with Sections 39 and 47 of the CGST Act, the GST system automatically bars the filing of returns if a registered...
Deep Tech Startups To Retain Status For 20 years Under New DPIIT Notification
On 4 February, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), issued a notification extending enhanced tax incentives and revising the startup recognition criteria for “Deep Tech Startups” (DTSs) DTSs are entities engaged in developing advanced scientific or engineering solutions involving high research and development intensity, significant intellectual property creation, long gestation periods, and elevated technical or...
Mere Renting Of Residential Flat Does Not Take Away Buyer's Consumer Rights: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India has clarified that the mere act of leasing or renting out a residential flat does not by itself take a homebuyer outside the protection of consumer law. The Court ruled that a buyer can be excluded from the definition of “consumer” only if it is established that the dominant purpose of purchasing the flat was commercial in nature. The ruling arose from a dispute relating to a residential project in Gurugram. A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N.V....
CCI Orders Investigation Into IndiGo Over Alleged Abuse of Dominance After Mass Flight Cancellations
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday ordered an investigation into InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates IndiGo, after forming a prima facie view that the airline may have abused its dominant position by cancelling a large number of flights in early December 2025 and leaving passengers to book tickets at sharply higher fares. The order was passed by a coram comprising Chairperson Ravneet Kaur and Members Anil Agrawal, Sweta Kakkad, and Deepak Anurag. At the threshold, the...
UltraTech Cement Receives GST Demands of ₹15.26 Crore from Tamil Nadu Authorities
UltraTech Cement Limited recently informed stock exchanges that the State GST authorities in Tamil Nadu have issued two orders raising a cumulative tax demand of Rs. 15.26 crore, along with interest and penalties, on allegations of excess Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims. As per the disclosure, the orders were passed by the Assistant Commissioner, State Goods and Services Tax, Trichy, and were received by the company on January 29, 2026. One order relates to the financial year 2022-23,...
Nearly 9 In 10 Pre-Institution Mediation Cases In 2024–25 Recorded As Non-Starter, Government Data Shows
Nearly nine out of ten applications filed for mandatory pre-institution mediation under the Commercial Courts Act were recorded as “non-starter” in 2024–25, according to data shared by the Ministry of Law and Justice in Parliament. The data was placed before the Rajya Sabha in a written reply by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal. It shows that 59,568 applications were received for pre-institution mediation during the year. Of these, 52,730...
Budget 2026-27 Proposes Tax Holiday Till 2047 For Foreign Cloud Services Using Indian Data Centres
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27, proposed a long-term tax holiday for foreign companies providing cloud services from India using domestic data centre infrastructure. Announcing the measure in her Budget speech, the Finance Minister said, “Recognising the need to enable critical infrastructure and boost investment in data centers, I propose to provide tax holiday till 2047 to any foreign company that provides cloud services to customers globally by...
Budget 2026-27: Centre Proposes ISM 2.0, Higher Electronics Outlay, Rare Earth Corridors, And Chemical Parks
Presenting the Union Budget 2026, the Centre announced a renewed push to manufacturing and industrial policy, including a new phase of the semiconductor mission, enhanced support for electronics manufacturing, rare earth processing and domestic chemical production. On the semiconductor sector, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India's Semiconductor Mission 1.0 had expanded domestic capabilities. “Building on this, we will launch ISM 2.0 to produce equipment and materials, design...
Cigarettes Turn Costlier From Today As 40% Sin Tax Kicks In
Cigarettes will get 40% costlier from today, as higher taxes on tobacco products notified by the Union government take effect from February 1, 2026.The Ministry of Finance had issued the notification on December 31, 2025, replacing the GST compensation cess with a 40 per cent sin tax under the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025. While the notification was issued earlier, the revised levy becomes applicable from today.The notification also raises the GST rate on tobacco and related products...
Budget 2026-27 Proposes 12-Month Window From Assessment Year End To File Revised Income Tax Returns
As per the proposals in the Union Budget 2026–27, the government has proposed extending the time limit for filing a revised income tax return from the existing nine months to twelve months from the end of the relevant assessment year.At present, the deadlines for filing a belated return under Section 139(4) and a revised return under Section 139(5) coincide, both expiring nine months from the end of the relevant assessment year. As a result, taxpayers who file a belated return towards the end of...
Budget 2026–27 Allocates ₹1,200 Crore For E-Courts Phase III Implementation
The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹1,200 crore for the implementation of the e-Courts project (Phase III) under the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, as per the Expenditure Budget. The allocation remains unchanged from 2024–25, when ₹1,200 crore was earmarked, with the funding provided under the Ministry of Law and Justice. The e-Courts project, implemented since 2007 under the National e-Governance Plan, aims at Information and Communication Technology enablement...
