BackCentre extends import duty relief on lentil by six months
The latest move comes after official data showed that consumer price index based inflation was at 7.01% in June
PremiumThe government has extended the exemption given to mosur dal, a lentil, from agriculture and infrastructure development cess when imported into India, by another six months.
The current exemption from the cess was to expire by the end of September. An order from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said the validity of the concessional duty period has been extended till end of March 2023.
However, there is no change in similar concessional rates of cess currently applicable on crude palm oil and crude soyabean oil at 5%, which will continue till end of end of September, the order showed. In the case lentil, the decision is meant to extend the relief earlier offered to consumers.
The government had earlier given several duty concessions on imported edible oils to tame a surge in prices.
The latest move comes after official data showed earlier this month that consumer price index based inflation was at 7.01% in June, while food inflation measured by consumer food price index was at 7.75%. The government has been using customs duty adjustments to lower prices in some cases and have experimented with quantitative restrictions or duties on exports to improve local availability of a host of commodities including wheat, sugar and auto fuel.
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