Basic customs duty exempted on 17 drugs and medicines

New Delhi, Feb 01, 2026 : To rationalize the customs duty structure for goods imported for personal use, the government has reduced the tariff rate on all dutiable goods imported for personal use from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. Presenting the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, FM Nirmala Sitharaman said that to provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, basic customs duty has been exempted on 17 drugs or medicines. Seven more rare diseases added to the list for the purposes of exempting import duties on personal imports of drugs, medicines and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used in their treatment.