New Delhi: Pigeon peas or tur dal (whole) are now exempt from basic customs duties, as per a directive from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

According to reports, the agriculture ministry's initial prediction of 4.34 million tonnes of tur production for the 2022–23 crop year (July–June) has been revised downward to 3.89 million tonnes. In 2021–2022, 7.6 lakh tonnes of tur were imported.

In a separate announcement, the Centre raised the special additional excise duty on crude oil, or windfall profit tax, to Rs. 4400 per tonne. A tonne cost Rs. 4350 as of February 15.

The government has provided comfort by reducing the rate on aviation turbine fuel exports, which had a Rs. 1.5 per litre special additional excise charge as of 15 February.

The special supplementary excise duty on fuel exports was also decreased by the Centre from Rs. 1 per litre to Rs. 0.5 per litre. Also, the diesel export tax on roads and infrastructure has been eliminated. When exported, it used to fetch Rs. 1.5 a litre.

Every two weeks, the government modifies the windfall profit tax on goods and petroleum in light of changes in the price of commodities internationally.

Previous Years' History: Following deflation in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for pulses in 2017 and 2018, inflation started soaring at double-digits from February 2019. 

In 2020 and 2021, the price of pulses grew further. At the retail level too, double-digit inflation rates haunted 2020 and continued till September 2021. Pulses selling expensively included chana (gram), tur (arhar/pigeon pea), urad, masur (lentil), and moong, to some extent.

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