05
Dec
New Delhi, December 5, 2025: The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, clearing the way for additional revenue from products such as pan masala to support India’s defence and public health requirements. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to the debate in the House, said the cess is essential for meeting modern defence needs and for strengthening state-level health systems.She said that public health is a state responsibility while national defence is handled by the Centre, making it necessary to create dependable sources of funding. She emphasised that items categorised as demerit…