Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha. (PTI Photo) Show Quick Read Summary is AI Generated. Newsroom Reviewed

Parliament on Thursday approved a bill to levy a higher excise duty on tobacco and related products once the GST compensation cess ends, with the Rajya Sabha returning the legislation to Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha had passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on Wednesday.

Replying to a discussion on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on the various aspects of the legislation, and responded to questions from various members.

Sitharaman also told the House that farmers are being encouraged to give up tobacco and grow other cash crops.

"This is being done in Andhra, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nad

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