India, Jan. 3 -- It was bound to happen. Like it or not, GST 2.0 is having a much-higher negative impact on government revenues, compared to the official estimates. Thus, it was a matter of time before the policy-makers acted to shore up revenues. The easiest target was to impose higher taxes on products that attracted the highest 'sin' GST of 40 per cent. Tobacco, cigarettes, and tobacco products were the obvious choices. The new duties will be applicable from February 1, 2026, and provide a cushion of extra revenues for two months before the end of the fiscal year (2025-26). It may partially safeguard the fiscal deficit, which is under pressure due to lower-than-expected nominal GDP growth rate despite higher-than-estimated real growth ...