Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM seeks review of discriminatory service charges on foreigners and NRIs

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has asked the Cabinet Secretary to review the discriminatory charges being levied for services on foreign passport holders including NRIs. The Prime Minister has suggested that the concerned Ministries should examine the feasibility of ending this anomaly and treating all consumers of such services at par, irrespective of nationality.

At present, higher charges are levied on foreign passport holders in the case of hotel tariffs, entrance fee to historic monuments and tourist sites, domestic airfare, registration fees for international or other conferences or seminars, charges for booking space for trade and other exhibitions organised by the ITPO and other organisations, subscription rates for journals or magazines excluding additional postage charges and healthcare.