The humble samosa will now attract a 13.5 per cent luxury tax in Bihar.
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar has put the humble samosa on a list of 'luxury items' that will now attract 13.5 per cent tax to fund development work.
The list also includes the popular snack kachauri, sweets priced above Rs 500 a kilo and mosquito repellent.
The state cabinet meeting that was chaired by Mr Kumar took the decision, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination Department, Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters in Patna. The list given out by Mr Mehrotra is a long one. "He said 13.5 per cent tax would be taken on salty items like samosa, kachauri and branded namkin (salted snacks) among others," the news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The other items on the list include UPS units, auto parts, battery parts, sand, cosmetics, perfumes and hair oil. The cabinet approved 23 proposals from different departments. It also decided to waive off entertainment tax on the film "Chalk N Duster" because it "gives a strong social message."
The cabinet also decided to consider providing a Non Professional Allowance to doctors who teach in medical colleges and super specialty hospitals to ban private practice.