New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday exempted from customs duty 18 defence-related imports, including flight motion simulators, ship-launched missiles, rockets with calibres over 100 mm, remotely piloted military aircraft, and all parts, spares, tools, and accessories used for artillery weapons, rifles, aircraft, and missiles.
The duty exemption will also cover military transport aircraft, deep submergence rescue vessels, unmanned underwater vessels, and high performance batteries for drones, among others, a notification issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said. These items will now attract nil customs duty and nil integrated goods and services tax (IGST). The move will support the country’s defence modernisation efforts.
These changes are in line with the recent reduction of GST on these products from 18% to nil.
Additionally, the government has provided relief from IGST on certain imports, including works of art for public exhibition in museums or galleries, memorials of a public character intended for public places, and antiques or antiquities, if they are certified by the culture ministry. Earlier there was exemption only on basic customs duty.