India: Oil, Gas & Electricity

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (“CBIC”), through Notification No. 31/2026-Central Excise dated 15 June 2026, has amended Notification No. 08/2026-Central Excise dated 26 March 2026 to increase the effective rate of Special Additional Excise Duty (“SAED”) applicable on exports of Aviation Turbine Fuel (“ATF”). Effective from 16 June 2026, the duty has been increased from Rs 9.5 per litre to Rs 12.5 per litre.

The Draft Regulations represent a significant regulatory shift towards a capacity-based access model aligned with evolving electricity market structures, increasing renewable energy penetration, growth of green open access transactions and the emergence of energy storage systems.

One of the key issues before the Ld. Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (“MPERC”) was whether MB Power was entitled to gross-up its Return on Equity (“RoE”) notwithstanding the fact that, at the corporate level, it had not paid income tax during certain years owing to losses and unabsorbed depreciation arising from its other businesses. MPPMCL opposed the claim, inter alia, on the grounds that the claim was barred by limitation and that grossing-up could not be permitted in the absence of actual tax payment by the corporate entity.

The Appellant filed a petition before the Ld. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission ("CERC"), pursuant to the Letter5 issued by the Ministry of Power, Government of India clarifying that the Appellant is a deemed distribution licensee under the third proviso to Section 14 of the Electricity Act

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India (GoI), vide Office Memorandum dated 25 May 2026 bearing No. 238/10/2025-P AND RA (OM), has proposed a structured One-Time Relief Package (Proposed Relief Package) to address the issue wherein Letters of Award (LoAs) have been issued by Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) as intermediary procurers but Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) remain unsigned as on 30 April 2026.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has taken a significant step in fortifying the country’s food safety architecture by notifying the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues)...

Earlier this year, the International Financial Services Centre Authority (“IFSCA”) issued a notification (“Notification”) specifying operating leases, including any hybrid of operating...

The Delhi HC directed the CIC to re-adjudicate the question afresh, after affording a full opportunity of hearing to all concerned parties and requested the CIC to decide the Second Appeal expeditiously, not beyond 6 (six) months. The ruling carries significant implications for private electricity distribution licensees across India.

Arnold J. Toynbee's "Challenge and Response" theory from A Study of History provides a valuable framework for understanding civilizational progress.