Liquor to cost more in Puducherry

Liquor prices in Puducherry are set to rise significantly as the government on Wednesday approved a major hike in excise duty, additional excise duty, special excise duty, and licence fees, aiming to generate over ₹300 crore in additional revenue.

The decision taken during an extended cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy is part of a broader strategy to fund welfare schemes announced in the recent tax-free budget. The excise department, the second-largest revenue source for the Union Territory, will implement the revised duties across all categories of liquor outlets—wholesale, retail, and tourism with the annual licence fee for liquor outlets also set to double.

Despite the increase, officials assured that liquor prices would still remain lower than in neighbouring states, stated media reports. The last excise revision occurred in July 2019. Additionally, the cabinet approved a 34 percent hike in the Guideline Land Rate (GLR), the first since a 25 percent cut in 2016-17, and also increased registration fees for vehicles and property. All revised rates will be enforced once cleared by the Lt. Governor.