Excise levy on food mixes
An excise levy of 1% will be imposed on items such as coffee and tea pre-mixes, sauces, ketchup, soups and broths, fruit pulp, fruit juice-based drinks, food mixes, ready-to-eat packaged foods and toothpowders. Since the levy is small, it will not trigger price increases.
An excise levy of 1% will be imposed on items such as coffee and tea pre-mixes, sauces, ketchup, soups and broths, fruit pulp, fruit juice-based drinks, food mixes, ready-to-eat packaged foods and toothpowders. Since the levy is small, it will not trigger price increases.
Hospital, medical bills to rise
Medical bills, including diagnostic tests, will be 5% higher at private hospitals as the government brings these under the service tax net.
Medical bills, including diagnostic tests, will be 5% higher at private hospitals as the government brings these under the service tax net.
Now pay more for air travel
Passengers to pay Rs 50 more on domestic air travel and Rs 250 on foreign travel because of a 2% increase in service tax.
Passengers to pay Rs 50 more on domestic air travel and Rs 250 on foreign travel because of a 2% increase in service tax.
Branded garments to cost more
Branded garments to cost a tenth more as retailers plan to pass on the 10% excise levy on such clothes to consumers.
Branded garments to cost a tenth more as retailers plan to pass on the 10% excise levy on such clothes to consumers.
Food bills, hotel tariffs slither up
Eating out in restaurants serving liquor will become 3% costlier. Staying in hotels with room rents higher than Rs 1,000 will become 5% more expensive.
Eating out in restaurants serving liquor will become 3% costlier. Staying in hotels with room rents higher than Rs 1,000 will become 5% more expensive.
Excise on sanitary napkins slashed
Excise on sanitary napkins and diapers cut to 1% from 10%. Prices unlikely to come down.
Excise on sanitary napkins and diapers cut to 1% from 10%. Prices unlikely to come down.
PCs likely to cost more
The levy of 5% excise duty on microprocessors as well as DVD writers is likely to make PCs costlier. AMD said that instability in policy is not good for the industry. Intel says it’s still reading the fine print, but a marginal price rise may be imminent.
The levy of 5% excise duty on microprocessors as well as DVD writers is likely to make PCs costlier. AMD said that instability in policy is not good for the industry. Intel says it’s still reading the fine print, but a marginal price rise may be imminent.
Sops on mobile phone parts to continue
No hike in customs duty of 5% on mobile phone parts, as was widely expected, will give local manufacturers some relief. Full exemption from special additional customs duty on handset components and accessories will help lower costs marginally.
No hike in customs duty of 5% on mobile phone parts, as was widely expected, will give local manufacturers some relief. Full exemption from special additional customs duty on handset components and accessories will help lower costs marginally.
Nokia to increase prices marginally
Phone maker Nokia is expected to pass on the 1% increase in central excise to customers, but other phone makers say it is too small a number and are not expected to do anything. Nokia phones may cost Rs 100-200 more.
Phone maker Nokia is expected to pass on the 1% increase in central excise to customers, but other phone makers say it is too small a number and are not expected to do anything. Nokia phones may cost Rs 100-200 more.
Push for rural broadband, but will it work?
Rural broadband has got a big push, but earlier efforts have not clicked. The government planned to set up 2,50,000 citizen service centres in villages to drive e-governance. Many of the one lakh CSCs that were set up have shut down, raising questions about the model.
Rural broadband has got a big push, but earlier efforts have not clicked. The government planned to set up 2,50,000 citizen service centres in villages to drive e-governance. Many of the one lakh CSCs that were set up have shut down, raising questions about the model.
Not something the doctor ordered
All private air-conditioned hospitals with more than 25 beds will face 5% tax on their services. This will increase cost of health care in most corporate hospital chains. Health-care providers such as Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Manipal Healthcare, Super Religare Laboratories may have to bear the brunt of service tax or pass it on to consumers. Bottomline of these providers is likely to be impacted.
All private air-conditioned hospitals with more than 25 beds will face 5% tax on their services. This will increase cost of health care in most corporate hospital chains. Health-care providers such as Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Manipal Healthcare, Super Religare Laboratories may have to bear the brunt of service tax or pass it on to consumers. Bottomline of these providers is likely to be impacted.
Happy weekends 2011. :D
Source: ET
