Jaitley, however, spared the common man from price hikes

Jaitley, however, spared the common man from price hikes on many commonly used day-to-day items by reducing duties.

Leather footwear priced above Rs 1,000 per pair will cost less as excise duty has gone down to 6 percent from 12 percent earlier. Packaged fruits and vegetables will also become cheaper as pre-cooling, ripening, retail packing and labelling of these items have been exempted from service tax.

Similarly excise duty on locally made mobile phones, LED/ LCD panels, LED lights and LED Lamps have been cut. Microwave ovens are likely to become cheaper as a key component, magnetron, has been exempted from basic customs duty as compared to 5 percent earlier. Refrigerator prices could also come down as import duty on various components have been reduced.

Similarly, solar water heater will be less expensive with excise duty on the item has been changed from 12 percent to nil without CENVAT credit or 12.5 per cent with CENVAT credit.