Karnataka Budget 2025 | Rationalisation of excise slabs to continue, unused liquor licenses allocation via electronic auction, says CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that the Karnataka government will continue to rationalise excise slabs throughout the current year.

Siddaramaiah made the observation when he presented his record 16th State Budget. The CM has set the revenue collection for 2025-26 at Rs 40,000 crore.

A total revenue of Rs 36,500 crore is estimated from State Excise in revised estimates for 2024-25, he said.

“The government has rationalised excise slabs by making the prices of premium segments comparable to the neighbouring states. The process of rationalisation will be continued during the current year by making slight adjustments in the excise duty structure,” the CM said.

“It is proposed to allocate unused liquor licenses through a transparent electronic auction which is expected to aid in additional resource mobilisation to the state. Government has developed software and online process for all the services in the excise department, which will increase the efficiency in administration and improve public service delivery,” he added.

The CM also said that the government will introduce the system of transfers and postings through counselling in all Group-B and Group-C posts in State Excise among other revenue-collecting departments.