Jewellers from across India have extended their nationwide strike against the government’s decision to impose a 1% excise duty on jewellery. The decision to continue the protests indefinitiely was taken unanimously by the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) and representatives from the majority of Indian jewellery associations. The strike had initially been planned as a three day protest.

The proposed levy will be on jewellery without input credit or 12.5 percent with input tax credit on jewellery excluding silver other than studded with diamonds and some other precious stones.

The industry feels that the imposition of duty may place the burden of heavy paper work on small jewellers.

GJF Chairman G. V. Sreedhar has said, "Jewellery Association representatives from all States in India unanimously decided to continue the strike till further notice to protest against the imposition of excise duty that will negatively impact a large number of manufacturers, artisans and craftsmen.”

The GJF has urged the government to withdraw the proposal, which it described as “not practically implementable and ....detrimental to the survival of the industry”.