We demand the removal of import duties on:

1. Personal Imports (up to ₹10,000 INR): This covers small items for hobbies, personal projects, and anything up to atleast 10k. For packages above that threshold lower the import duty below 20% like most G20 countries 
2. Gifts from Relatives (Matching Income Tax Exemptions): Gifts from spouses, parents, siblings, lineal ascendants/descendants, spouse's siblings, and siblings' spouses should be exempt from import duty, mirroring existing income tax exemptions.
3. Medicines: Life-saving medications, rare disease treatments, and essential drugs.

India's import duty system, overseen by the DGFT, has become a form of extortion, harming individuals and hindering progress. A hefty 77.28% customs fees (excluding "clearance charges") on personal imports, with shipping companies adding their own "clearance", documentation, and other often - murky handling fees - the real cost to consumers is far greater. This system punishes ordinary citizens for seeking goods from abroad, enriching not only the government but also other players in ways that aren't transparent.

This isn't just dry economics; it's deeply personal. Imagine needing a specific tool for a hobby, a vital replacement part, or a unique item for a creative project - only to find its price doubled by exorbitant taxes. Even gifts from relatives abroad are subject to this crushing duty, intruding on private family matters.

1) Personal purchases:

I experienced this firsthand. During school, I relied on electronic components from sources like AliExpress to build my projects. But in early 2020, Citing "national security" the government blocked these small personal imports, just as I was entering college and needed new modules. Surprisingly, some components are still available on Indian websites at three to five times the price - ironically, still imported; That's a steep price to pay, But whats worse is that some new modules are still not available anywhere within India. How are we supposed to acquire those parts.

This exposes the hypocrisy: commercial imports were never blocked, only personal purchases like ours. This "national security" justification rings hollow when only personal purchases are targeted, hindering personal growth, especially for students and hobbyists. My education and projects were directly impacted by this unfair policy.

For personal use, imposing customs duty is not only unjustified but also counterproductive. It creates an artificial barrier to entry, benefiting a small number of established import companies who can navigate the complex regulations and absorb the bureaucratic costs. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens are denied access to these goods or forced to pay exorbitant prices.

For packages above ₹10,000 INR, reduce the import duty below 20%, aligning with the practices of other G20 nations. This will create a fairer and more competitive market while still generating some revenue.

2) Family gifts:

The current import duty system even extends its reach into our personal lives by taxing gifts from relatives abroad. This is a clear overreach; The government should stay out of private family affairs. Regardless of the gift's nature or value, it represents a personal connection between family members. Just as our income tax laws rightly exempt gifts between close relatives, import duties should follow suit.

The act of gifting within a family unit is a private matter, and the government's attempt to extract revenue from these exchanges is shameless and undermines the fundamental right to privacy and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21.

3) Medicines:

Imposing import duties on life-saving medications, rare disease treatments, and essential drugs is simply cruel. While supporting domestic businesses is a valid goal, it becomes unreasonable and inhumane when applied to medicines. Even with some current exemptions, many vital medications remain subject to these unjust taxes, directly increasing the financial burden on patients already facing health crises. What benefit is gained by making any medicine less affordable? Is this kind of "domestic economic growth" worth the suffering inflicted on those in need? When lives are at stake, prioritizing government revenue over access to affordable treatment is unacceptable. This policy puts a price on human life and must be abolished. All medicines should be exempt from import duties.

This focuses solely on the import duty only; other taxes levied on medicines, such as GST, while also contributing to the overall cost, are not addressed in this petition.

Valid criticisms:

While some worry about system abuse, extorting everyone is worse. The real tax evaders aren't concerned with small packages. Our proposal targets small personal imports, gifts from relatives and medicines, ensuring fairness without impacting the large-scale evasion.

Here's an example from New Zealand:

In this specific case "protecting local business" argument wouldn't hold water because all RC cars are imported. If you were to buy purchase this from India, you with be slapped with more than ₹38,000 in taxes. On top of that, there's the added headache of dealing with the customs officer.

This is on the extreme side since NZ$1000 is nearly ₹50K;
 

Even the "first world countries" have exemptions for gifts and personal purchases (ranging from ~₹8,000 to ~₹68,000). And the import taxes are also below the 25% range, not a single country has this 77.28% tax.

Why this matters:

The original intention behind import duties was to protect domestic industries and encourage local manufacturing. However, the current implementation has strayed far from this noble goal and is now causing more harm than good. As the saying goes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

The current customs duty policy is no longer serving its intended purpose. It's actively hindering personal growth, limiting access to healthcare, and creating unnecessary hardship for common citizens.

But it's more than just a failed policy; Like the proverbial boiling frog, we've become accustomed to incremental taxes and restrictions. The tax for personal imports has ballooned to a staggering 77.28%, with hidden fees and charges pushing the actual cost even higher. This creeping extortion has gone unchecked for too long, It’s time to get back on track!