Amid COVID-19pandemic across the state, the Assam Government has increased tax on liquor by 25%.The decision had taken at a cabinet meeting at Janata Bhawan on Friday.

As the statesacross India are finding ways to generate revenue because of the prevailingspecial emergency in the country, many states have increased taxes on liquor.Even Assam will increase excise duty slab to generate additional revenue tomeet the enhanced expenditure of the government.

Assam excisedepartment claimed that with this it is expected to bring additional revenue ofRs 1000 crores including VAT.

After a thoroughdiscussion with the governments of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, the AssamGovernment has taken the cumulative decisions regarding an increase in liquorprices.

It may be stated that soon notification will be issued by the excise department to this effect. Moreover, the Assam Government had clarified that government has no problem with the increasing of working hours for the employees from 8 to 12 hours of the private companies along with the Tea industries of the state.