New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- India should simplify its customs duty framework by reducing the actual number of duty slabs rather than merely tweaking Basic Customs Duty (BCD) rates, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Tuesday.

The move, it argued, is essential to improve ease of doing business and support the country's manufacturing and export ambitions.

Current Challenges in Customs Tariffs

In its pre-Budget recommendations, GTRI noted that the last Budget reduced ad valorem BCD rates to eight slabs. However, this reform excluded numerous specific duties, mixed duties, and conditional rates, which continue to create hundreds of effective tariff slabs in practice, reported PTI.

Additionally, part of the BCD was shifted to the...