Editor’s Note
This article outlines India’s updated customs regulations, which raise the duty-free baggage allowance for eligible travellers to ₹75,000. The new rules, effective from February 2026, aim to modernise policies in line with current travel and economic trends. Travellers are advised to consult official sources for the most detailed and current information.
India has implemented new customs and baggage rules effective from February 2, 2026. According to a Times of India report, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) introduced the New Baggage Rules 2026 to better align regulations with present-day travel patterns and rising global prices.
Under the updated rules, Indian residents and Indian-origin travellers, including those living in the UAE, can bring goods worth up to INR75,000 duty-free, an increase from the earlier INR50,000 limit. This allowance applies to passengers who have stayed abroad for more than three days and are carrying items for personal use in accompanied baggage. The duty-free allowance applies only to used personal effects and travel souvenirs and excludes commercial quantities. Foreign nationals visiting India on non-tourist visas are also eligible for the INR75,000 allowance, while foreign tourists are entitled to INR25,000.
To improve passenger convenience, India has rolled out electronic and advanced baggage declaration systems. The Ministry of Finance has digitised customs processes. Travellers carrying goods beyond the free allowance are advised to declare them at the Red Channel. Failure to do so can result in confiscation, fines, or legal action.
Another major reform relates to jewellery. According to an Economic Times report, the government has removed value-based caps on jewellery imports and replaced them with a weight-only system. Eligible returning residents and tourists of Indian origin who have lived abroad for more than one year are now allowed to bring jewellery duty-free up to 40 grammes for female passengers and up to 20 grammes for other passengers.
The Economic Times noted that earlier rules imposed both weight and value limits, which often resulted in seizures and disputes. In 2016, gold traded at around INR29,080 per 10 grams on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX). By February 2, 2026, prices had surged to INR1,43,926 per 10 grammes, an increase of nearly 394 per cent.
The revised baggage rules also consolidate duty-free allowances into clearer, passenger-based categories. In addition, the government has incorporated duty-free import of one laptop for passengers above 18 years of age and provisions related to pets into the unified baggage framework.
