India Simplifies Travel in 2026 With Higher Duty-Free Limits

India has rolled out a sweeping overhaul of its airport customs system to make international travel faster, clearer, and more passenger-friendly, introducing the Baggage Rules 2026 that raise the general duty-free allowance to seventy-five thousand rupees while simplifying long-criticised procedures. The new framework responds to rising international travel, higher-value personal baggage, and repeated complaints about delays and ambiguity at customs counters, replacing outdated norms with clearer entitlements, digital declarations, and uniform implementation across the country, all aimed at reducing congestion, cutting clearance time, and improving the overall arrival experience for travellers. India has introduced a wide-ranging reform of its customs baggage system by notifying the Baggage Rules, 2026, a move that directly benefits international travellers and reflects the sharp rise in cross-border travel. At the centre of the reform is a higher general duty-free allowance, increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000, aimed at making airport arrivals smoother and reducing friction during customs clearance. The new baggage rules come into force alongside the Customs Baggage (Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2026 and a consolidated Master Circular. Together, these measures replace the older, fragmented framework with a clearer and more uniform system that applies across all customs locations in the country. The updated structure aligns baggage regulations with present-day economic conditions, changing travel behaviour, and higher passenger volumes at international airports.