public health funding
India's Lok Sabha Passes Health and National Security Cess Bill on Pan Masala Production
Dec 05, 2025 10:57 pm CST
The Lok Sabha has approved legislation imposing a cess on pan masala manufacturing facilities to fund national security and public health initiatives. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed the revenue will be shared with states while maintaining the existing 40% GST rate on pan masala products. This new cess targets production capacity rather than consumption and represents 6.1% of gross total revenue in the current fiscal year.
Finance Minister Sitharaman Introduces Health Security Cess Bill to Strengthen National Security and Public Health Funding
Dec 05, 2025 12:51 am CST
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has introduced the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill in the Lok Sabha, proposing a production-based cess on items like paan masala to create dedicated funding for health and national security priorities. The bill establishes cess rates ranging from Rs 1.01-25.47 crore per machine monthly and includes comprehensive enforcement mechanisms for compliance.