Jewellery News: The government has notified the Baggage Rules, 2026, replacing the decade-old Baggage Rules, 2016, and expanding duty-free allowances for international passengers arriving in India. Under the revised framework, eligible travellers can bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 duty-free, up from ₹50,000 earlier, while residents and persons of Indian origin returning after over one year abroad are now permitted to import jewellery duty-free up to 40 grams for women and 20 grams for men as part of bona fide personal baggage. The new rules also introduce clearer provisions for laptops, alcohol, cigarettes, and temporary import of personal effects, while addressing long-standing interpretational issues at airports and strengthening declaration requirements for passengers.
The new regime widens duty-free allowances, introduces clarity on jewellery imports, and addresses long-standing interpretational issues faced by passengers and customs authorities alike. The revised rules, notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and supported by changes proposed in the Finance Bill 2026, aim to strike a balance between passenger convenience and regulatory control.
According to the Finance Bill, 2026, the baggage rules were revised to achieve multiple objectives. These include rationalising baggage provisions, addressing passenger-related concerns at airports, and resolving ambiguities that often result in unnecessary detention of goods.
Another key goal was to provide clear rules for the temporary import and re-import of goods, particularly personal effects brought into or taken out of India for short durations. The restructuring also aligns transfer-of-residence benefits for Indian residents and foreign professionals based on the duration of stay abroad, an area that previously lacked uniform interpretation.
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES BROUGHT FORWARD BY BAGGADE RULES 2026?
Higher Duty-Free Allowance for Most Passengers
One of the most passenger-friendly changes under the Baggage Rules, 2026, is the increase in the general duty-free allowance.
Under the new rules, an Indian resident, a tourist of Indian origin, or a foreign national holding a valid visa other than a tourist visa can now bring goods worth up to ₹75,000 duty-free when arriving in India by air or sea. This represents a significant increase from the earlier limit of ₹50,000.
The allowance applies to articles carried on the person or in accompanied baggage and excludes infants.
Separate Limit for Foreign Tourists
The rules draw a clear distinction between residents and short-term visitors.
A foreign tourist of non-Indian origin, arriving in India by air or sea, is permitted to bring articles worth up to ₹25,000 duty-free, provided the goods are carried on the person or in accompanied baggage. This provision maintains a separate and lower threshold for tourists while ensuring uniform treatment across entry points.
Passengers arriving through land routes, however, are not eligible for any general duty-free allowance under the new framework.
Duty-Free Jewellery
Perhaps the most significant and closely watched change under the Baggage Rules, 2026, relates to jewellery imports.
According to tax and accounting firm RSM India, the new rules introduce explicit provisions for the duty-free import of jewellery by a resident or tourist of Indian origin who has been residing abroad for more than one year. This marks a departure from earlier rules, where jewellery allowances were often subject to interpretation and inconsistent application.
The duty-free limits for jewellery are clearly defined as follows:
- Female passenger: up to 40 grams
- Passenger other than a female passenger: up to 20 grams
These limits apply irrespective of the value of the jewellery, provided it forms part of bona fide personal baggage.
Notably, the Baggage Rules, 2026, do not specifically mention gold or silver. Instead, they use the broader term “jewellery.”
This implies that eligible passengers can bring jewellery weighing up to the prescribed limits without paying customs duty, whether the jewellery is made of gold or silver. For example, a female passenger returning from Dubai after residing abroad for over a year can bring jewellery weighing up to 40 grams duty-free, regardless of the metal used.
Similarly, a male passenger is allowed to bring jewellery weighing up to 20 grams without attracting customs duty.
Mandatory Declaration Requirements at Customs
While the rules liberalise allowances, they also reinforce compliance obligations.
Passengers are required to fill out the Indian Customs Declaration Form, providing details of items carried, including jewellery. Travellers must declare whether they are carrying jewellery beyond what is necessary for daily use or beyond the prescribed special allowance.
If the jewellery exceeds the duty-free limit, the passenger must specifically declare:
- The total weight of personal jewellery (new or used), and
- The total weight of jewellery being carried, including all items.
Customs duty becomes payable on the value of dutiable goods exceeding the duty-free allowance.
With the Baggage Rules, 2026, the government has sought to modernise customs regulations in line with evolving travel patterns and rising consumption. Higher duty-free limits, explicit jewellery provisions, and clearer declaration requirements are expected to reduce disputes at airports while improving passenger experience.
At the same time, safeguards such as mandatory declarations, non-pooling of allowances, and strict prohibited lists ensure that the system is not misused for commercial imports.
For travellers arriving in India, the message is clear: the rules are now more generous—but also more clearly defined.
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