Govt Drops Bombshell: Cigarette Prices to Quadruple with New Excise Duty Hike

• Central government to significantly increase excise duties on cigarettes and all tobacco products.
• An Rs. 18 cigarette is projected to cost Rs. 70-72, aiming to reduce consumption.
• Parliament approved the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Pankaj Chaudhary.
• Duties on chewing tobacco, hookah tobacco, and smoking mixtures also see sharp increases.
• Public reaction is mixed, with health advocates welcoming it, but concerns about illegal sales and counterfeit products.

Why It Matters: Massive excise duty hike aims to curb tobacco use, but faces mixed public reaction and concerns over illegal trade.