Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 30: The government will introduce 13 bills in Parliament during the Winter Session starting Monday, including The Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025, and The Health Security National Security Cess Bill, 2025, sources confirmed.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the two bills in the Lok Sabha. The Central Excise Amendment Bill seeks to replace the GST compensation cess on tobacco and pan masala with an excise levy, ensuring that high taxation on these “sin goods” is maintained. The Health Security National Security Cess Bill aims to augment resources for national security and public health, levying a cess on manufacturing processes for specified goods, including pan masala.

Currently, tobacco and pan masala attract a 28% GST along with a compensation cess. The cess, initially extended until March 31, 2026, has been used to repay loans taken by the Centre to compensate states for GST revenue shortfalls during the COVID-19 period. With loan repayment scheduled for completion in December 2025, the compensation cess on these goods will be phased out.

During the session, discussion and voting on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025–26 will also take place.

Other bills scheduled for introduction include the National Highways (Amendment) Bill, Atomic Energy Bill, Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2025.