Breaking grounds

We published a circular by Central Board of Excise and Customs, Government of India that came out in April (Coordinates, May 2007).

The circular classifies high technology featured mobile phone including GPS as a secondary feature as mobile phone.

That implies four per cent custom duty rather than 34 per cent as applicable to satellite phone.

A reason to cheer.

Especially for the cellular community.

However, we need to understand why this benefit cannot be extended to standalone GPS also.

Given the fact that the uses of GPS in infrastructure projects have become beneficial, and in many cases, essential too.

There is a case.

A strong case.

For a reduction in the duty from 34% to 4% across the board for GPS receivers.