Latest news with #ExcisePolicy
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UP's first vintnery tour from June 15, mango wine on menu
LUCKNOW After significant changes in the UP excise policy 2025-26, the state's first vintnery tour is scheduled to begin in the state capital from June 15. It will be inaugurated by UP excise minister Nitin Agarwal at Maeve Meadery in Mal area of Lucknow. Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and tourism minister Jaiveer Singh are also expected to visit the facility the next day. Those interested in taking the two-hour tour can book their slots online on the official website of Maeve Meadery. As of now, the tour will be conducted only on Saturdays. It is likely to involve visiting the vineyard, experiencing wine tastings, and potentially learning about the local wine-making process, similar to other winery tours. Visitors can taste the product and also buy from a shop set up on the premises, licence for which has been granted by the government as per the UP Excise Policy 2025-26. Speaking to HT, UP excise commissioner Adarsh Singh said: 'We are happy that the first vintnery tour is starting in the state and are hopeful that other wineries will also come to UP, helping both entrepreneurs and farmers in the state. This was also our aim in the UP Excise Policy 2025-2026. Wine is being manufactured from a local produce - mango. Two more wineries are in the pipeline to start such tours, one in Saharanpur and the other in Muzaffarnagar.' Maeve Meadery founder and horticulturist Madhvendra Deo Singh said: 'We had a family property in Mal area, and my late father was very passionate about mango farming. We are creating Mead from honey and fruits and the wine will contain 8-14 percent alcohol. We don't need grapes for making are not using any artificial colour, aroma or sweetener. We are making wine from fruits, which are available in UP. We are using multi-flower honey and mustard honey which comes from Katarnia Ghat.' 'Mead is being made here from mango, mulberry and mint. The alcohol in mead is naturally generated and does not come from fermentation. We also don't use ethanol in it,' added Singh. 'Mango-eating, straw weaving, mud bath and tube-well bath competitions will be held on June 15 along with a nature walk. Adults can book the two-hour winery tour and tasting sessions on the website on a payment of ₹500. This tour will happen every Saturday. We are also in talks with UP Tourism regarding the tour,' he said. The Excise Policy is not only aimed at generating a revenue of ₹63000 crore, but also empowers fruit farmers. The policy has also opened doors for more tourism opportunities as it permits tours of various breweries and wineries in a unique tie-up with the UP tourism department.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Taking steps to cork liquor smuggling, Chandigarh responds to Punjab
Days after the Punjab government strongly objected to the increasing incidents of liquor smuggling from Chandigarh into various districts of the state, the UT excise and taxation department has responded, stating that all necessary measures are being taken to curb the illegal trade. Last week, in a detailed 13-page letter addressed to Ajay Chagti, secretary, excise and taxation, UT, Punjab's excise and taxation commissioner Jitendra Jorwal had attached a list of 35 FIRs registered across multiple districts since financial year 2025-26 began, all pertaining to liquor illegally smuggled from Chandigarh. In its reply, the UT excise and taxation department stated that it had intensified efforts to curb inter-state liquor smuggling and ensure strict compliance with the Punjab Excise Act, 1914. Regular inspections and enforcement drives are being carried out to combat illegal practices and to promote transparency in the distribution and sale of liquor, it said. The response added that on several occasions, the department had acted upon information received from Punjab regarding seized liquor consignments, promptly seeking further details to identify points of sale and the individuals involved. Multiple letters and reminders have been issued to the authorities concerned, the department said, expressing hope that the culprits will be booked, as Punjab has assured the provision of detailed information in the requisite format to trace the origin of the smuggled liquor without ambiguity. To enhance coordination, the department has also initiated communication with neighbouring states to ensure swift information sharing whenever liquor meant for sale in Chandigarh is seized elsewhere. Upon receiving such information, proceedings under the Punjab Excise Act are immediately initiated. Action has also been taken against bottling plants and suppliers whose liquor, manufactured for sale in Chandigarh, has been seized in Punjab. The reply further stated that during the current Excise Policy period (2025-26), the department has conducted 48 inspections, resulting in the seizure of 16,429 bottles of liquor. Legal proceedings have been initiated under the applicable excise laws. These actions reaffirm the department's commitment to maintaining transparency, discipline and accountability within Chandigarh's licensed liquor trade. Additionally, the department has implemented a track-and-trace system for real-time monitoring of liquor production and distribution. Non-compliance with this system will attract strict punitive measures. The department is also conducting back-tracing to vends or bottling plants upon receiving information from Punjab or other neighbouring states, along with regular inspections across all excise premises, it added in its response.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Liquor zones auctioned for ₹1,270-cr in Gurugram West
The Haryana excise department has generated ₹1,270.27 crore from the allocation of 62 out of 83 liquor retail zones in Gurugram (West), marking a strong start to the first phase of e-auctions under the state's newly amended Excise Policy 2025–27. The two-day online auction, held from May 26 to 27, saw bids that exceeded the total reserve price of ₹1,152.27 crore by 10.24%, a result officials described as 'satisfactory' amid prevailing market conditions. This year's auctions follow key revisions to the Haryana excise policy, which, for the first time, will operate on a two-year cycle from 2025 to 2027. Previously, the policy was revised annually. Officials said auctions, updates, and amendments are carried out at the end of each policy cycle to align with the revised framework. Among the highest-grossing zones in this round, DLF Phase 3 topped the list with a bid of ₹64 crore, followed by Shankar Chowk at ₹62 crore, Bajghera Chowk at ₹46 crore, Dwarka Expressway at ₹43.5 crore, and Tajnagar at ₹41 crore. Officials attributed these high figures to the zones' strategic locations and expected consumer footfall. To be sure, in 2024, the department collected a total of ₹1,756 crore in licence fees from Gurugram—a 9.4% increase over 2023. Last year, all 162 retail zones in the city—83 in the West and 79 in the East—had been auctioned. The highest bid in 2023 came from a vend in Bristol Chowk at ₹48.28 crore, followed by Mehrauli Border at ₹45.53 crore. For this year, the evaluation of bids took place Tuesday evening at the Resource Building, chaired by Gurugram deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar. Deputy excise and taxation commissioner (West) Jitender Dudi said, 'The increased amount compared to the reserve price may not seem very high, but it is certainly satisfactory given the present market dynamics. The response shows stable investor confidence and sets the tone for upcoming auctions in other districts.' Kumar added, 'The auction results mark a positive start and reflect the department's efficient implementation of the new excise regime.' The remaining 21 zones in Gurugram (West) that did not receive successful bids will be re-auctioned in the first week of June. The online tendering process for Gurugram (East) zones will begin at 9am on May 30 and conclude at 4pm on May 31, with bid evaluation scheduled for the same evening. Among the significant changes aimed at improving ease of doing business, the total security requirement has been reduced from 15% to 11% of the licence fee. The initial deposit at the time of bidding has been brought down from 3% to 2%, and the payment required to begin lifting the liquor quota has been cut from 7% to 5%. Officials said these changes were introduced to reduce the financial burden on bidders and widen competition, especially after the bidding schedule had to be revised in Gurugram East and West due to the amendments.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Centre asks Punjab govt to reconsider fee levied on ethanol production
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has written a letter to Punjab government asking it to reconsider the fee which has been levied in the state's excise policy on production of ethanol. The letter, accessed by The Indian Express, has been written by Praveen M Khanooja, Additional Secretary in the petroleum ministry to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha on April 8. The letter states that the provision to levy Regulatory Fee (Ethanol Permit/Pass fee) in Excise Policy 2025-26 may restrict free movement of ethanol within and outside the state, which will further increase the cost of ethanol blended petrol. 'It has been brought to the Ministry's notice by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) that as per the excise policy of Punjab state, there is a substantial increase in the license fee, annual renewal fee and capacity enhancement fee for Distilleries (Part D, Para 6 a & b of Punjab's Excise Policy). Also, Para 29 'Regulatory fee on ethanol' of the Policy makes a provision to levy Regulatory Fee (Ethanol Permit/Pass fee) @ Rs. 1 per Bulk Litre,' read the letter. The petroleum ministry pointed out that the Union government has been promoting ethanol blending in petrol to give boost to domestic agricultural sector and associated environment benefits. 'Over the last one decade, ethanol blending has improved from 1.5 per cent to more than 18 per cent and the country is on course to achieve the 20 per cent blending target by Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. Punjab has made significant contributions to the success of this programme by achieving a blending percentage of 18.8 per cent in ESY 2024-25, as on March 2025,' the letter adds. It goes on to add apart from augmenting distillation capacities of existing plants, dedicated ethanol plants are being commissioned in Punjab providing employment opportunities and giving boost to circular economy. 'The increased fee in the Excise Policy 2025-26 is likely to increase the cost of ethanol blended petrol, affecting the viability of ethanol producers/suppliers and OMCs. The provision to levy Regulatory Fee (Ethanol Permit/Pass fee) in Excise Policy may restrict free movement of ethanol within and outside the state, which will increase the cost of ethanol blended petrol,' Khanooja says in the letter. The petroleum ministry official urged the Chief Secretary to review the Excise Policy and reconsider any levy/fee on fuel ethanol production/consumption/transportation in Punjab to facilitate smooth off take and free movement of green fuel ethanol for the benefit of environment and farmers. The dual benefits of ethanol blending — reducing carbon emissions and supporting the agricultural economy — have been highlighted by experts since long. By promoting maize cultivation, the initiative aims to provide farmers with an alternative crop, ensuring income stability while contributing to environmental sustainability through cleaner fuel alternatives. Ministry officials say achieving the 20 per cent ethanol blending target will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and align with India's climate goals. 'Increased maize cultivation and ethanol production will create employment opportunities in Punjab, particularly through the establishment of dedicated ethanol plants. Encouraging maize cultivation may diversify Punjab's agricultural landscape, reducing dependence on traditional crops like wheat and paddy, which could lead to more sustainable farming practices,' the official added.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Naidu sets Rs. 1.34L-cr revenue target for FY26
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed all revenue-generating departments to conduct an in-depth study on opportunities available to significantly increase state's income. The state government has set an ambitious target of Rs 1,34,208 crore in total revenues for the financial year 2025-26, representing a year-on-year growth of 29 per cent. Addressing a review meeting with all revenue-generating departments at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the CM expressed concern that although Andhra Pradesh ranked among the top states in gold consumption, the corresponding tax revenues were not proportionate. He instructed officials to address this and implement strict measures to prevent tax evasion. The Chief Minister also emphasised the need to create a central Data Lake, integrating information from all departments. Each department should have its own AI team, and an AI-driven tax system should be operational within the next two to three months to provide better services to taxpayers, he said. Naidu instructed the officials to take stringent measures to prevent illegal liquor sales from neighbouring states. He directed that the entire process - from supply to retail - should be tracked in real-time to ensure transparency. Questioning why Andhra Pradesh's transport revenue remained lower than that of neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he called for an immediate investigation and corrective policy measures. He stressed that revenue-generating departments must strive to exceed monthly targets. He suggested forming a committee to facilitate the international sale of red sanders stocks in the state. Noting that Andhra Pradesh is home to red sanders worth thousands of crores of rupees, he said monetising these reserves could bring in substantial income. He asked for a detailed report on the volume and value of red sanders stocks available. Though the state government has set ambitious revenue targets, the performance has been a mixed bag so far this financial year. From April 1 to May 11 this financial year, revenue from Commercial Taxes and Forest departments saw a decline, whereas income from the Stamps & Registrations department surged unexpectedly when compared to the same period last financial year. Meanwhile, transfers from the Central government to the state dropped by 26 per cent during this period compared to last year. While Andhra Pradesh received Rs17,170 crore from the Centre during this period in 2024–25, only Rs 12,717 Cr was received this year, officials noted. The new Excise Policy has led to increased revenue in 2024–25, with the state earning Rs 28,842 crore from liquor sales, a 14.84 per cent rise over the previous year. However, when compared to southern states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh's Excise revenue remains relatively low. In April 2025 alone, the state earned Rs 2,116 crore in excise revenue. Officials estimate that total excise income for the year could reach Rs 33,882 crore. The CM noted that a few departments have not met their expected progress in the past year and emphasised the need for improved performance across the board.
