Karnataka rules out hike in duty on IML

In the backdrop of alcobev producers hiking the base prices of certain brands of alcobev products in Karnataka, the state’s Excise Minister RB Timmapur has said that the excise duty on Indian-made liquor (IML) was unlikely to see an increase in the upcoming budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The hike is in the range between Rs 20 and Rs 30 per 180 ml.

In the face of the challenge to mobilise resources for funding electoral guarantees, state’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had raised additional excise duty (AED) on IML by 20 percent across all 18 price slabs in the budget, for the current fiscal year, in July 2023.

The Minister said that there was no proposal to increase duties on IML, and there was no pressure to meet the revenue target set at Rs 36,000 crore from liquor sales, in Karnataka.