India, Feb. 1 -- In her Union Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled steps to reduce treatment costs for cancer patients by removing basic customs duty on 17 medicines. She also announced that import duty exemptions would be extended to drugs, medicines and specialised medical food brought in for the treatment of seven additional rare diseases.

As part of the indirect tax proposals for 2026-27 aimed at improving ease of living, the government reduced the tariff rate on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, according to information released by the PIB.

The tax relief measures are intended to lower the financial burden on patients, particularly those undergoing cancer treat...