Policy Briefs and Public Comments

CMRG’s Comments of the RMC Report for the Karnataka State Excise Reforms, 2026

In June 2026, the Centre for Market Regulations and Governance (CMRG) at Vidyashilp University submitted its response on Resource Mobilisation Committee, Karnataka's (RMC) invitation for suggestions and comments for the RMC Report Karnataka State Excise Reforms, 2026. RMC's Report assesses a proposal for transitioning Karnataka’s alcohol excise system from a price-and-category-based structure to a strength-based excise levied per litre of alcohol in beverage (LAIB) system, to be implemented over a 3-yr period, as set out in the Karnataka State Excise Reforms 2026 Draft Report prepared by the Resource Mobilisation Committee headed by Dr. K.P. Krishnan.

CMRG's comments have been put through the lens of a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) exercise. CMRG, through its RIA Lab, has been carrying out ex-post and ex-ante RIA exercises and certificate courses on the RIA. Regulatory Impact Assessment is a methodology that attempts to design precise and targeted regulations, exploring all possible options, reducing unnecessary burden on those affected and on the regulators, while also ensuring legitimacy to the policy and its effective implementation of the regulation.