The government has significantly raised the duty free allowances by allowing the Indians to bring imported goods to Rs. 75,000, as compared to Rs. 50,000 of the decade-old baggage limit rules (2016). This move is designed to make travel smoother and bring the rules in line with contemporary global travel patterns.
Specifications of the New Baggage Rule
Starting from midnight, 2 February, the new baggage rules allow tourists, excluding infants, duty free clearance of articles of upto Rs. 25,000. This limit was set at Rs. 15,000 in the decade-old baggage rules of 2016. “A passenger, including an infant arriving in India, shall be allowed clearance of used personal effects required for satisfying daily necessities of life and travel souvenirs, carried on the person or in his bona fide baggage, free of duty,” the official notice read.
It should be noted that these rules are applicable to the travellers coming to India through sea or air and duty free clearance of personal-use articles would be applicable on the accompanied bona fide baggage. Travelling through land routes would not get duty free allowances.
Apart from this, the new rules allow residents or tourists of Indian origin, who have resided abroad for a year or more, duty free clearance of bringing back jewellery. For female passengers, this limit is set at 40 grams, while for others the allowance is for 20 grams in their respective bona fide baggage. Jewellery for this purpose implies, materials used for adornment purposes that are made of precious metals—gold, silver, platinum and more, as outlined by the official notice.
This is also accompanied by the the simplification of customs clearance by bringing in digital reforms for the international travellers. Declarations made via the app are directly linked to immigration databases to facilitate faster clearance.
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