The Cabinet today approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend Section 3 1B of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 giving emergency powers to the government to raise the duty on certain items without any limitations.
Under the existing provisions, the government can only double the excise duty on certain items, minister for Parliamentary affairs and Communications and Informa- tion Technology Pramod Mahajan said after the Cabinet meeting.
The minister, however, did not specify the items, underlining that it was up to the finance minister to pinpoint the items.
Mahajan also declined to comment on reporters
