Budget cuts duty on key items: Relief for patients, push for mfg

New Delhi: As many as 17 cancer drugs, along with medicines and food for special medical needs for seven rare diseases, components for microwave ovens are some of the items that are set to become cheaper with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing cuts in customs duty in the Union Budget 2026-27. However, certain items like imported low-cost umbrellas, ATM/cash dispensers, coffee roasting, brewing or vending machines, are some of the items, which are going to be costlier due to increase in basic customs duties. In her speech, Sitharaman said, “To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs or medicines.” “I also propose to add seven more rare diseases for the purposes of exempting import duties on personal imports of drugs, medicines and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used in their treatment,” she said in her Budget speech, which lasted around 85 minutes.