From 91 to 4,000 litre of wine for religious ceremonies: Boost for Delhi churches under revised excise rules

Delhi amends excise rules to raise sacramental wine limit for churches and special spirit storage for industries (Picture generated with AI for representation)

In a move that helps churches in the Capital procure a much larger quantity of sacramental wine for religious ceremonies, the Delhi government has notified amendments to the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010. The revision is also set to benefit industrial units as it allows a significant increase in the storage and possession limits for special denatured spirit, which can be used as a solvent.

Under the revision to Rule 20 of the Delhi Excise Rules related to sacramental wine, the Bishop of Delhi will be permitted to purchase or import up to 4,000 litres of duty-free sacramental wine annually in one or multiple permits from authorised distilleries located anywhere in the country, subject to the approval of the Excise Commissioner. Earlier, the Bishop of Delhi was allowed to purchase, transport and possess up to 91 litres of sacramental wine for church use.

The Finance department’s notification issued on Monday read: “Provided further that Bishop of Delhi may, for bonafide Church use for sacramental purpose, ‘purchase, transport, possess sacramental wine up to 91 litres’ shall be replaced with the words – ‘purchase/import, transport and possess duty free sacramental wine annually up to 4,000 litres in one or multiple permits from an authorised distillery anywhere in India with the approval of the Excise Commissioner.”

In a boost for different industries, the government has also significantly increased storage and possession limits for special denatured spirits. The maximum quantity of special denatured spirit that can be stored at licenced premises under Form P-6 has been raised from 6,744 kilolitres to 15,000 kilolitres at any given time. The annual authorised possession limit for permit holders has also been increased from 64,000 kilolitres to 120,000 kilolitres.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 81 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 (Delhi Act 10 of 2010), the Lieutenant Governor hereby makes the following rules to further amend the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010…These rules may be called the Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2025… These amendments shall come into force on the date of publication in the official gazette,” read the notification.