Debate Heats Up Over 'Hinglish' Health Security Cess Bill 2025

The Health Security Cess Bill 2025 was discussed in India's Rajya Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described it as a resource for health and national security. Opposition MPs criticized the bill's bilingual title and called for deeper scrutiny. The bill levies a cess on pan masala manufacturers.

The Rajya Sabha engaged in a heated debate over the Health Security Cess Bill 2025, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman elaborating on its purpose in creating a specialized funding stream for health security and national security in India.

Opposition legislators criticized the bill's titling, which combines Hindi and English, calling for its referral to a parliamentary committee. Key areas of contention include the bill's implication on health policies and the potential misuse of funds.

The bill aims to impose a cess on the production capacity of pan masala manufacturers while exempting essential goods, promising not to impact ordinary citizens. Critics, however, remain skeptical about its implementation and broader economic implications.