Passport expiry and Maintenance Funds criteria for Tier 2

Hi,
I am planning to apply for Tier 2 soon. My sponsor has agreed to provide Job contract for 3 yrs which I think is maximum limit for Tier 2 General category. My Passport expires on Apr 2016. Will my Tier 2 Visa get rejected on these grounds. Should I apply to extend my Passport expiry before applying for Tier 2 ?

My sponsor has agreed to maintain and accommodate until the end of your first month. In a few different sites/blogs its mentioned that Sponsor needs to mention this in Certificate of Sponsorship. Is there a specific format available for this and should there be any other document which my Sponsorer should provide as a proof.

I am in UK now on a Business Visa and I do not have any valid Work Permits. As per the UKBA I can only apply from my home country (India) but wanted your help to confirm this. In case I am allowed to Apply from UK then I would rather prefer it.

Thanks