New Delhi, Dec. 1 -- After a 'sin tax' on tobacco-related items during the GST rationalisation exercise, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced 'Healthy Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025', in the Lok Sabha. The Bill proposed a rigorous new tax regime on pan masala and gutkha manufacturers to fund defence and public health expenditures.

According to the Bill, the proposed cess will be levied on machines installed or processes undertaken for the manufacture or production of specified goods, including pan masala and gutkha.

It says "The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill proposes to levy cess on the machines installed or processes undertaken by which the specified goods, namely, pan masala, is manu...