Uttarakhand Cabinet Approved Excise Policy 2023-24

• 21 Mar 2023

Why In News

On March 20, 2023, in the cabinet meeting chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand government approved the Excise Policy 2023-24 for the state.

Key Points

• In the new excise policy, a provision has been made that the licenses of those selling liquor at a price higher than the maximum retail price (MRP) will be suspended. If there is a complaint of recovery of more than MRP of a shop five times, then its license will be suspended.
• It was decided in the meeting that instead of glass, the pots of country liquor will now be available in tetra packs so that adulteration can be prevented.
• The government has increased the licence fee for departmental stores from Rs 8 lakh in mountains and Rs 15 lakh in plain districts.
• There has been no increase in the fee of bar restaurants in the new excise policy. They will be able to get liquor from the nearest liquor contract only. Prices of sea imported liquor have also been controlled.
• Departmental stores in the state will now be able to take liquor from liquor contracts located in their district, which will curb their arbitrariness.
• In the new policy, a provision has been made to waive the revenue of the shops which are closed during a divine disaster or sit-in protest based on the report of the District Magistrate.
• After the new policy, country and foreign liquor will become cheaper in the state. To curb the smuggling of liquor from Uttar Pradesh and to earn more revenue, the difference between the prices of liquor in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand has been reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 20.
• After the approval of the new excise policy, the price of domestic and foreign liquor will be cheaper by Rs 100 to Rs 300 from April 1.
• Under the Excise Policy 2023-24, Rs 3 per bottle will be charged as cess, which will be earmarked for cow protection, sports and women's welfare in the state.
• Excise revenue target for the year 2023-24 has been kept at Rs 4000 crore.