Winter Session Day 3: Lok Sabha passes Bill to levy excise duty on tobacco
Once enacted, the Bill will give the government the financial capacity to raise the central excise duty on tobacco and related products after the termination of the GST compensation cess
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday (December 3) approved legislation to impose an increased excise duty on tobacco and related products following the conclusion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess. The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, received approval through a voice vote in the Lower House.
Once enacted, the Bill will provide the government with the financial capacity to raise the central excise duty on tobacco and associated products following the termination of the GST compensation cess, which is presently levied on all tobacco items such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookah, zarda, and flavoured tobacco.
Presently, a 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) plus cess at a varied rate is levied on tobacco and related products.
The proposed legislation seeks to impose an excise duty of 60-70 percent on unmanufactured tobacco. For cigars and cheroots, an excise rate of 25 percent or Rs 5,000 per 1,000 sticks is suggested, whichever amount is greater. Cigarettes are proposed to be taxed based on their length and filter, with rates ranging from Rs 2,700 to Rs 11,000 per 1,000 sticks, while chewing tobacco is proposed to be taxed at Rs 100 per kilogram.
The Bill also intends to replace the table that outlines the tariff rates for tobacco and tobacco products found in Section IV of the Fourth Schedule of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
Opposition MPs arrive wearing masks
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs arrived in Parliament for the third day of the Winter Session wearing gas masks to protest against the severe pollution in Delhi. Parliamentarians of the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc also protested against the four Labour Codes in the morning. Members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress protested against the Narendra Modi government over pending central funds due for West Bengal.
INDIA bloc strategises on electoral reform talks
Floor leaders of the INDIA bloc held a meeting to finalise their strategy after the government agreed to the Opposition’s insistence on discussing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll under the broader issue of electoral reforms.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, attended the meeting as the alliance worked to align its approach for the upcoming debates.
The Lok Sabha will take up the matter of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls next Tuesday (December 9), when it is scheduled to be included in a broader debate on electoral reforms.
The decision followed an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House witnessed a complete washout for the second straight day, with disruptions stemming from the standoff between the government and the Opposition over the timing of the SIR discussion.
Heated scenes in RS
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, saw a heated exchange during the day after Trinamool member Dola Sen raised during the Zero Hour the home ministry's November 25 directive to rename all Raj Bhavans in the country as Lok Bhavans. She also spoke on additional issues, including MGNREGA, prompting the House Chair to step in and say that the deviated remarks would not go on record.
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Live Updates
- 3 Dec 2025 12:39 PM IST
Rajya Sabha: Clashes over row on renaming Raj Bhavans to Lok Bhavans
The Rajya Sabha saw sharp exchanges on Wednesday after AITC MP Dola Sen raised concern during Zero Hour over the Home Affairs Ministry’s November 25 order directing that all Raj Bhavans across the country be renamed as Lok Bhavans. Sen said neither Parliament, state Assemblies, nor Cabinets had been informed, adding that the matter had not even been discussed with the Chair.
Tension escalated when Sen moved beyond the renaming directive and brought up issues such as MGNREGA, prompting the Chair to intervene and note that remarks outside the stated subject would not form part of the official record.
Leader of the House J. P. Nadda protested the deviation, arguing that Sen had been permitted to speak specifically on the Raj Bhavan–Lok Bhavan renaming and therefore unrelated references should be removed. He insisted that only comments tied to the notified subject be retained. Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan agreed, stating that any diversion from the topic would be excluded.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge defended Sen, asserting that her remarks were relevant and had been cleared by the Chair’s office. Accusing the government of curbing debate, he said the House should not be “bulldozed.” The Chair reiterated that proceedings were being conducted correctly, while Nadda maintained he had merely sought adherence to the subject at hand.
(With agency inputs)
- 3 Dec 2025 12:33 PM IST
Surjewala calls the Sanchar Saathi app a breach of privacy
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, in the Rajya Sabha, terms the Centre’s directive regarding the Sangchar Saathi app as a clear breach of privacy. “The clear apprehension is that the features of the app will monitor the geo location of the user, the search history, every transactio,n including financial ones, by every cell phone user. There is also the possible monitoring of conversations, SMS and WhatsApp messages. Would this not completely negate the right to privacy of every individual? And a possible kill switch will turn the cellophane of everyone, including journalists, Opposition leaders and every dissident into a brick,” he added.
