India Customs Rules Changed, Passengers can bring more gold and luggage from February 2

Travelers flying to India can now breathe a sigh of relief regarding customs duties. The government has updated the Baggage Rules effective February 2, 2026. The biggest change is for gold jewellery, where the monetary cap has been removed, allowing passengers to carry gold based purely on weight. This move comes as a major relief for Non-Resident Indians, especially those returning from the UAE.

How much gold can you carry now?

The rules for bringing gold jewellery have become much simpler. Male passengers can bring up to 20 grams of gold duty-free, while female passengers are allowed up to 40 grams. The earlier value limits of ₹50,000 and ₹1,00,000 have been removed entirely.

This means you do not have to worry about the rising price of gold affecting your duty-free allowance. However, keep in mind that this rule applies only to passengers who have resided abroad for more than one year. The import duty rate remains unchanged at approximately 6% for amounts above this limit.

Allowance for other items and electronics

Apart from gold, the limit for general goods has also increased. Indian residents and tourists of Indian origin can now bring items worth up to ₹75,000 duty-free. This covers things like electronics, chocolates, and personal gifts. For foreign tourists, this limit is set at ₹25,000.

If you are over 18 years old, you can also bring one new laptop or notepad without paying any customs duty. This is in addition to the general allowance. For those moving back to India after two years, household effects up to ₹7.5 lakh are now duty-free.

Quick look at the new limits