5 December 2025: Hon’ble Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade, speaking in the Upper House during the debate on the Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025, strongly supported the legislation, stating that it is essential to prevent tobacco products from becoming cheaper once the GST Compensation Cess comes to an end. He said the Bill aims to keep a firm deterrent in place so that harmful products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco do not become easily accessible, particularly to young people.
Tanavade said the revised excise duties will help maintain revenue stability while protecting public health. If prices fall, tobacco consumption will rise, reversing years of progress, he warned. The Bill, he said, will ensure stable pricing that discourages use and safeguards health.
Pointing out that tobacco is a key driver of cancer, heart disease and respiratory ailments, Tanavade said it places a severe burden on families. Keeping such products expensive is among the most effective ways to curb consumption, he added. He also noted that revenue collected from sin goods strengthens the health sector, enabling the Government to develop new AIIMS, establish more medical colleges and expand schemes like Ayushman Bharat.
Highlighting the situation in Goa, Tanavade said the State continues to witness rising cases of cancer and lifestyle diseases linked to tobacco, putting additional pressure on institutions such as Goa Medical College. As a tourism-driven State, he said Goa must also ensure a healthy working environment for people employed in hospitality, transport and related sectors.
He clarified that the Bill targets consumption and is not directed against farmers, emphasising that the Government is promoting crop diversification to support cultivators.
Tanavade further stressed the need to curb the illicit tobacco trade through tougher enforcement, digital tax stamps and stronger inter-agency coordination. Enhanced coastal surveillance, he said, will help coastal States like Goa tackle illegal smuggling.
Concluding his remarks, Tanavade said that as India progresses towards the goal of Viksit Bharat, good health must be the foundation of economic growth. The Bill, he added, is an important step to protect youth, strengthen healthcare and secure the nation’s future.
