To tame prices, govt slaps 20% export duty on rice varieties

NEW DELHI : After steel, the government on Thursday imposed export tax on certain varieties of rice to keep domestic prices under check. The move follows a ban on wheat and certain products and is the latest in a series of measures to tame inflation.
Unmilled rice and husked brown rice will attract an export levy of 20% with effect from Friday, the ministry of finance said in a notification. Semi-milled or wholly-milled rice, other than parboiled and basmati rice, will also attract the same levy, it said.
The government is keeping close tabs on prices with a group of ministers headed by Amit Shah meeting periodically and acting on products that see a spurt.