Mobile phones, chargers set to be cheaper as Budget proposes to cut BCD

New Delhi: Mobile phones and chargers are set to cost less with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposing to reduce basic custom duty (BCD) on mobile phones, mobile PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) and mobile chargers to 15% from 20%.

"With a three-fold increase in domestic production and almost 100-fold jump in exports of mobile phones over the last six years, the Indian mobile phone industry has matured. In the interest of consumers, I now propose to reduce the BCD on mobile phone, mobile PCBA and mobile charger to 15 percent," Sitharaman said while presenting Union Budget 2024-25.

Commenting on the reduction in BCD, Kaushik Das, Founder and CEO of AAO NXT said that the reduction of Basic Customs Duty on mobile phones and related components to 15% is a significant step that will lower costs and enhance accessibility to digital devices.