PARLIAMENT APPROVES CENTRAL EXCISE (AMENDMENT) BILL TO RAISE DUTY ON TOBACCO

NOT CESS, BUT EXCISE DUTY: FM

- TDG NETWORK

lhe Parliament on Thursday approved the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to the discussion in Rajya Sabha, said the higher duties on cigarettes will be shared with the states. “This is not a cess but excise duty. The amount will be redistributed to the States as per the Finance Commission’s recommendations.”