Cabinet Clears Excise Policy, Allows Retail to Pvt Players

The Hemant Soren cabinet approved a new excise policy on Thursday, allowing private players to handle liquor retail sales in Jharkhand, while the state-owned corporation would continue to operate the wholesale business, officials said.

- Vishal Kant

RANCHI:

The decision marks the reinstatement of the previous arrangement under the Excise Policy-2022, in which the retail trade was taken from private players and handed over to Jharkhand Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL).

Under the new policy approved on Thursday, which is likely to be implemented in about a month, around 1,400 liquor retail shops will be allotted to private players through a lottery system, officials said.

"The cabinet approved the Jharkhand Excise (Settlement and Operation of Shops for Retail Sale of Liquor) Rules, 2025," Cabinet secretary Vandana Dadel said. Briefing reporters, excise secretary Manoj Kumar stated that retail sales would now be managed by private players under the new rules.