Chandigarh, March 7: The Chandigarh administration has approved the Excise Policy for the 2026-27 financial year, introducing a 2% price increase on various categories of liquor starting April 1. This adjustment will affect country liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), as well as domestic beer and wine, primarily to counter inflation and increased production costs.
Government officials stated that the prices for imported spirits, wines, and beers will remain unaffected by the new policy. The administration has set the total reserve price for the city’s 97 retail vends at ₹454.35 crore, a slight rise from the ₹444 crore target established last year. The excise department maintained that these changes are designed to boost the UT exchequer’s revenue, with a total collection goal of approximately ₹950 crore for the upcoming year.
To ensure a fair auction process, the new framework includes a revised and clearer definition of “family.” A senior excise official noted that this change aims to prevent cartelization, which was a concern in previous auctions where related bidders secured a large number of vends. The official affirmed that the new terminology would enhance transparency and minimize potential legal disputes during the allotment phase.
The policy also includes operational changes, such as extending bottling plant working days to six days a week and enhancing security with CCTV monitoring. Darshan Singh Kler, president of the wine contractors’ association, declared that the policy is favorable for both businesses and consumers. He stated that the department successfully incorporated several suggestions from the trade to ensure a stable market environment in the city.
