Budget 2026-27 Proposes Cuts On Customs Duty On Personal Imports, Exempts Cancer Drugs And Rare Disease Medicines

The Union Budget 2026–27 presented on Sunday proposed customs duty relief for personal imports and medicines used in the treatment of serious illnesses.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “To rationalise the customs duty structure for goods imported for personal use, I propose to reduce the tariff rate on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.”

She also announced healthcare-specific exemptions. “To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs or medicines,” Sitharaman said.

In addition, “I also propose to add seven more rare diseases for the purpose of exempting import duties on personal imports of drugs, medicines and food for special medical purposes,” she added.