INS hails import duty cut

The INS President said he was, however, unhappy that the publications using imported glazed newsprint would be badly affected by the increase in customs duty from zero to five per cent. The burden increases because this variety of newsprint has to be fully imported and it is not manufactured in India. “This will affect magazines in particular," said Darda.

The newspaper industry is going through turbulent times because of a drop in advertisement revenue. The 5 per cent tax on imported glazed newsprint negates the advantage of the decision of the FM to reduce the standard newsprint import duty by 5 per cent.So it is really a balancing act with no meaningful advantage to the publishing industry, added Darda.

He said that the Supreme Court had always struck down any unreasonable and excessive levies on newsprint as unconstitutional and violating of Article 19 (1A) of the constitution.

Any tax on newsprint is tantamount to an imposition on knowledge and information and would be viewed by the newspaper industry as an anti-press measure.