The decision of this has been taken on 5th April 2000, the day of the notification, and from that day itself the changes have been made effect it has come to light only today, interestingly the budget session is still on and the finance ministry standing committee is still in the session, it is not known whether the finance commission had been intimated or not.

The government had intimated its decision to ministry of commerce, agriculture and consummate affairs and public distribution

In fact the press came to know about this from none other than Shanta Kumar minister of consumer affairs and pubic distribution who was speaking at the social editors conference here.

The commodities of which the basic custom duty has been increased are

1) Rice in the husk (paddy or rough0 from nil to 80 percent,

2) Husked (brown) rice, from nil to 80 percent,

3) Semi -milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or galzesd from nil to 70 percent.

4) broken rice, fron nil to 80 percent,

5) Maize9corn0 seed, from nil to 50 percent,

6) Grain sorghum , from nil to 50 percent,

7) Millet , from nil to 50 perent

8)spelt , from nil to 50 percent,

9) fresh , grapes from 25perent to 35 percent

10) apples from 35 percent to 50 perent

11) preparations for infant use, in retail packs from 15 percent to 35 percent.

Items for which the basic customs duty has been reduced are

1) almonds in shell ,from Rs.55 per kg to rs.35 per kg.

2) Shelled almonds ,from Rs.100 per kg to rs.65 per kg.

3) Grape fruit and prunes, from 35 percent to 25 percent