Notification No.1/2012- Clean Energy Cess In exercise of the powers conferred by section 84 of the Finance Act, 2010 (14 of 2010), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Clean Energy Cess Rules, 2010, namely

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 02/2011-Central Excise, dated the 1st March, 2011, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R 117 (E), dated the 1st March, 2011, namely:-

In the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 18/2012-CE, dated the 17th March, 2012 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R.169 (E), dated the 17th March, 2012, in the table,-

Notification No. 19/2012 – Central Excise (N.T.) In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 (1 of 1944), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Pan Masala Packing Machines (Capacity Determination and Collection of Duty) Rules, 2008, namely :-

Proposal to introduce negative list approach to taxation of services will enhance the share of service tax in the total tax revenue manifolds. The services specified in the negative list shall remain outside the service tax purview. This approach brings almost all the services under the tax net barring 17 heads of service listed in the negative list. Negative list includes most of the services provided by Government for local authority, services provided by Reserve Bank of India, foreign diplomatic missions located in India, cultivation services, trading of goods, betting, gambling, approved vocational educational education, etc.

Changes in the Rates of Duty- a. Central Excise rate for all goods, other than petroleum, called the Standard Rate has been enhanced from 10% to 12% ad valorem. b. The merit rate of excise duty for all non-petroleum goods has been increased from 5% to 6%. c. The concessional rate of duty of 1% imposed on 130 items in the last Budget-2011 has been increased to 2%. However, the following 4 items would attract only 1% duty:-

The standard rate of Central Excise duty for non-petroleum products has been enhanced from 10% to 12% ad valorem. The merit rate of excise duty for non-petroleum goods that hitherto attracted 5% has been increased to 6%. Similarly, the rate of duty of 1% imposed on 130 items in the last Budget has been increased to 2%. The exceptions to this increase are:

The Finance Minister has introduced the Finance Bill, 2012 in Lok Sabha today, i.e., 16th March, 2012. Changes in Customs and Central excise law and rates of duty have been proposed through the Finance Bill, 2012 [clauses 114 to 126 for customs; clauses 127 to 142 for Central Excise and clauses 151, 152, 154 to 156 for miscellaneous changes)]. In order to prescribe effective rates of duty and to carry out changes in the Rules made under the respective Acts, the following notifications are being issued:

General excise duty rate (CENVAT rate) is being enhanced from 10% to 12%. Consequently, the merit rate of 5% is being enhanced to 6% while 1 % excise duty applicable on 130 items is also being enhanced to 2%with a few exceptions. The statutory or tariff rate of central excise is being reduced to 12% for non-petroleum goods other than those which are exempt, or at higher duty and for petroleum goods, the statutory ad valorem duty or the ad valorem component on products having composite rate is also being reduced to 14%. The First Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 is accordingly being amended. Till the Finance Bill, 2012 is enacted, the general excise duty rate of 12% and 6% for some items is being notified [Clause 141 read with the Seventh schedule and Notification no. 18 /2012-CE dated the 17th March, 2012 and Notification no. 16 /2012-CE dated the 17th March, 2012 refers]

As a measure of harmonization between Central Excise and Service Tax, the Government has made a number of alignments. This was announced by the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the Union Budget 2012-13 in Lok Sabha today.