Price Shifts
The Union Budget 2026–27 brings a mixed bag of price changes driven by tweaks in customs duties on key imports. In a move aimed at easing healthcare costs and boosting domestic manufacturing, the Government has cut or exempted duties on several cancer drugs, rare disease medicines, and components used in electronics, aviation, nuclear energy, and clean-tech sectors. At the same time, higher or restored duties on select consumer and capital goods — ranging from imported umbrellas to ATM machines and coffee equipment — are set to push up prices. Together, these measures signal a balance between consumer relief and protecting domestic industry.
Items Becoming Cheaper (Customs duty cuts and exemptions)
- 17 cancer drugs – Basic customs duty (BCD) fully exempted
- Medicines and FSMP for seven additional rare diseases
- Duty exemption on personal imports
- Microwave oven components – BCD exempted to boost domestic manufacturing
- Sodium antimonate (used in solar glass) – BCD exempted
- Goods for nuclear power projects – BCD exemption extended till 2035; expanded to all plant capacities
- Capital goods for processing critical minerals – BCD exempted
- Aircraft components & parts (civil & defence aviation) – BCD exempted
- Raw materials for aircraft MRO (defence sector) – BCD exempted
Items Becoming Costlier (Higher and restored customs duties)
- Imported low-cost umbrellas — BCD set at 20 per cent or `60 per piece
- ATM, cash dispensers & parts - Previous BCD exemption withdrawn
- Coffee roasting, brewing and vending machines — Concessional BCD withdrawn (fromFeb 2, 2026)
- Zoo animals and birds (imports) - BCD increased to 30 per cent (from nil)
- Film and TV gear imported by foreign crews — Duty concession withdrawn (from Apr 1, 2026)
