Sugar, tea, me & the budget

• Re 1 per kg excise duty on refined edible oils and Rs 1.25 per kg on vanaspati waived

• Excise duty on imitation jewellery cut to 8 pc from16 pc

• Unbranded jewellery exempted

• Refrigerator duty down from 20 to 10 pc.

• Excise duty reduced from 16 pc to 8 pc on cakes and pastries

• Cenvat on motor cars and aerated drinks remain unchanged at 24 pc

• LPG for domestic consumption and subsidised kerosene not to attract customs and excise duties

• Excise duty reduced from 24 pc to 16 pc on ACs

• Excise duty reduced from 16 pc to 12 Pc (CENVAT) credit on matches made by mechanised and semi-mechanised sectors

• Excise duty cur from 24 pc to 16 pc on tyres, tubes and flaps

• Customs duty on cloves to be lowered to 35 pc from 70 pc

• Customs duty on passenger baggage has been reduced from 40 pc to 35 pc

Bitter News

• Excise duty of 2 pc on branded jewellery

• Customs duties on cut flowers, including orchids has been increased from 30 pc to 60 pc

• Membership fees of clubs to come under service tax net

• Specific rate on cigarettes to be increased by about 20 pc

• Other tobacco products, including gutkha, chewing tobacco, saunf and pan masala to attract 10 pc surcharge on ad valorem basis

• 8 pc excise duty with CENVAT credit on mosaic tiles.

• Excise duty of 16 pc imposed on road tractors (of engine capacity more than 1800 cc) for road trailers

• Excise duty on molasses up from Rs 500 per metric tonne to Rs 1,000 per metric tonne

• Taxable services provided by authorised service station to include reconditioning or restoration of motor cars, two-wheeled and light motor vehicles

• Beauty Parlours’ service tax o include all services provided by salons

• Manpower recruitment service to include supply of manpower, temporary or otherwise