The Union Budget 2026 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made certain items expensive for the consumer. Most of the increase in cost has been necessitated due to rise in basic customs duty on certain items.
These include imported low-cost umbrellas and ATM / Cash dispensers will become expensive due to a rise in basic customs duty.
What gets costlier?
- Sin goods like cigarettes, beedis, pan masala and gutka will now get costlier
- Imported alcohol will get costlier from April 1.
- Luxury watches are set to become costlier.
- The Centre has removed exemptions on coffee roasting, brewing and vending machines, making the drink costlier.
- Income tax misreporting will attract a penalty equal to the tax amount.
- Non-disclosure of movable assets will attract a penalty.
- Stock options and futures trading with the securities transaction tax being raised from 0.02% to 0.05%.
- Fertilisers will become expensive after the Centre removed exemptions on import fee of ammonium phosphate and ammonium nitro-phosphate. They are used in manufacturing fertilisers.
- Film & broadcasting equipment for foreign crews will be expensive due to higher basic customs duty
- Higher basic customs duty will increase the cost of ATM/Cash dispenser machine and its parts and components
- Low cost imported umbrellas will get costlier over duty hike
- Imported zoo animals and birds will also be expensive
- Castor oil cake will get costlier
