A high-level study group had examined policies from other states and submitted recommendations on state excise duty, licensing, and tax collection improvements, a press release from the state Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated
The excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) will be raised from three times to 4.5 times the declared manufacturing cost. Representational Pic/File
Alcohol in Maharashtra set to get expensive as state cabinet on Tuesday approved revenue-boosting changes in the excise department, including a hike in duty on liquor.
A high-level study group had examined policies from other states and submitted recommendations on state excise duty, licensing, and tax collection improvements, a press release from the state Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated.
The state has also introduced a new category grain based Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML) to be produced exclusively by local manufacturers.
MML brands will require new registrations.
The CMO said that the cabinet gave its nod to restructure the department, establish an integrated control cell with AI-based monitoring of distilleries, bottling plants, and wholesale licences, and create a new divisional office in Mumbai along with six additional superintendent-level offices in Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and Ahilyanagar districts, reported the PTI.
As per the Maharashtra cabinet's decision, excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) will be raised from three times to 4.5 times the declared manufacturing cost (up to Rs 260 per bulk litre), while duty on country liquor will rise from Rs 180 to Rs 205 per proof litre.
Revised minimum retail prices for 180 ml bottles are country liquor Rs 80, MML Rs 148, IMFL Rs 205, and premium foreign liquor Rs 360.
The press release said that FL-2 and FL-3 licences (for sealed bottle and on-premise sales, respectively) can now be operated through conducting agreements, subject to an additional 15 per cent and 10 per cent annual licence fee, respectively.
To strengthen the department, the cabinet approved the creation of 1,223 new posts 744 regular and 479 supervisory.
The release said these measures are expected to generate an additional Rs 14,000 crore annually in excise duties and related taxes.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra cabinet, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis, approved a draft bill to grant statutory status to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Castes Commission.
The bill will be tabled in the upcoming session of the state legislature, as per the PTI.
Apart from this, the cabinet approved a stipend hike for undergraduates and postgraduates in government-run physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes.
Stipends for undergraduate interns will rise from Rs 1,750 to Rs 8,000 per month, while postgraduate students will receive Rs 33,730 per month, a hike of Rs 10,000 including dearness allowance, with effect from June 1, 2025, reported the PTI.
Nursing students undergoing a six-month internship at government colleges in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nanded will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 8,000.
(with PTI inputs)
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