Travellers arriving in India can now bring in more goods without paying customs duty, thanks to the revised limits prescribed under the Baggage Rules, 2026. The updated rules increase the duty-free allowance for Indian passengers and clarify the limits for foreign travellers, crew members, jewellery, and alcoholic beverages.
Understanding these limits can help passengers avoid customs disputes, penalties, or unexpected duty payments at Indian airports.
Higher Duty-Free Allowance for Indian Travellers
Under the revised baggage regulations, Indian residents and persons of Indian origin arriving from abroad can bring articles worth up to ₹75,000 without payment of customs duty. This represents a significant increase from the earlier limit of ₹50,000.
The exemption applies only to goods carried personally by the traveller or included in their bona fide accompanied baggage. However, the benefit is not available for infants travelling with passengers.
BUY NOW: How Courts look at Customs Seizure at Airports & Passenger Rights : CASE COMPILATION
Allowance for Foreign Travellers
Foreign tourists and other foreign travellers entering India are entitled to a duty-free allowance of goods valued up to ₹25,000, provided such items are carried on their person or form part of their accompanied baggage.
Any value exceeding the prescribed limit may attract customs duty in accordance with applicable regulations.
Duty-Free Limit for Crew Members
Crew members arriving in India are entitled to a much lower duty-free allowance. They can bring articles worth up to ₹2,500 without payment of customs duty, subject to the condition that the goods are carried on their person or in accompanied baggage.
Jewellery Allowance for Passengers
The Baggage Rules also provide special exemptions for jewellery made of gold, silver, platinum, or other precious metals.
Female passengers can bring jewellery weighing up to 40 grams duty-free.
Other passengers are permitted to bring jewellery weighing up to 20 grams without attracting customs duty.
Travellers carrying jewellery beyond these prescribed limits may be required to pay applicable customs duties.
Currency Import and Export Rules
The import and export of foreign and Indian currency is governed separately under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015. Passengers should therefore comply with FEMA requirements in addition to customs regulations when carrying currency across borders.
Goods Not Covered Under Duty-Free Allowance
Certain categories of goods are specifically excluded from the duty-free baggage concession, irrespective of their value.
These include:
- Firearms
- Firearm cartridges beyond the permitted quantity
- Gold or silver in any form other than ornaments
- Television sets
- Goods imported in commercial quantities
Passengers carrying such items may be required to declare them and pay applicable customs duty or obtain necessary permissions.
Can You Carry Alcohol on Domestic Flights?
Many travellers are unaware that alcohol can be carried on domestic flights in India, but only under specified conditions.
Passengers may carry up to five litres of alcoholic beverages in checked-in baggage. The alcohol content should generally be between 24% and 70% alcohol by volume (ABV), which covers most wines, whiskies, vodkas, rums, and other standard spirits.
However, alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% ABV are strictly prohibited from carriage.
Additionally, opened or partially consumed bottles are not permitted. Only properly sealed retail bottles can be transported in checked baggage.
Why These Rules Matter
Customs authorities regularly intercept passengers who unknowingly exceed baggage allowances or carry restricted items without declaration. The revised Baggage Rules, 2026 seek to provide greater clarity while also enhancing convenience for genuine travellers.
Before travelling to India, passengers should carefully assess the value and nature of the goods they are carrying to ensure compliance with customs regulations and avoid delays, penalties, or confiscation at the airport.
