Cigarettes to cost more; mouth fresheners less

New Delhi, Feb 28: Specific rates of excise duty on cigarettes are proposed to be increased by about 5 percent in the 20007-08 budget.

Presenting the General Budget 2007-08 in the Lok Sabha today, Finance Minister P Chidambaram also proposed a raise in excise duty on bidis from Rs 7 to Rs 11 per thousand for non-machine made bidis and frs Rs 17 to Rs 24 per thousand for machine made bidis.

Mr Chidambaram has reduced the excise duty from 66 per cent to 45 per cent on pan masala containing no tobacco. He also withdrew the exemption for pan masala containing tobacco and other tobacco products that is now given to units in the North Eastern States.

UNI