Move expected to reduce registration costs and provide major relief to homebuyers, farmers and middle-class families
TFP Bureau, Raipur, April 28,2026: In a major relief for property buyers, the Government of Chhattisgarh has abolished the 0.60 per cent cess levied on the registration of immovable property, making property registration cheaper across the state.
The decision came into immediate effect following the issuance of a notification under the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Act, 2026, which eliminates the additional cess earlier charged on property transfer deeds based on market value.
The move was taken under the guidance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and is being seen as a step toward pro-people governance aimed at easing financial burdens on citizens.
Chief Minister Sai said the government’s objective is not merely to increase revenue but to simplify the lives of the people and make essential services more affordable. He noted that the decision will directly benefit common citizens, farmers, and middle-class families involved in property transactions, as the overall cost of property registration will now decrease and the process will become more accessible.
Registration Minister O. P. Choudhary said the move was specifically aimed at providing relief to the public. He stated that the amendment bill was passed during the Budget Session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, and with the issuance of the notification, the provision abolishing the cess has come into force with immediate effect.
According to Choudhary, the decision will particularly benefit middle- and lower-income families by making property registration more affordable while also encouraging transparency and efficiency in the real estate market. For instance, on a property valued at ₹1 crore, citizens will now save approximately ₹60,000 due to the removal of the 0.60 per cent cess.
The cess had originally been levied under the Chhattisgarh Cess Act, 1982, which allowed the government to impose additional charges on the transfer of immovable property. In 2023, the previous government introduced an additional cess of 12 per cent over the standard stamp duty to fund programmes such as the Chhattisgarh Employment Mission and the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club Scheme. This effectively added about 0.60 per cent to the market value of property during registration.
Officials said that since the Rajiv Gandhi Mitan Club Scheme is no longer operational and employment-related initiatives are now funded through the state’s general budget, the justification for continuing the cess no longer existed.
Government data shows that the state earned around ₹148 crore from the cess during the financial year 2024–25, while about ₹150 crore has been collected so far in the current financial year. Despite the revenue implications, the government has chosen to abolish the cess in the larger public interest.
With the amendment, provisions related to cess on instruments listed under Sections 8 and 9 and the Schedule of the Chhattisgarh Cess Act, 1982, have been removed.
Officials believe that the decision, along with ongoing reforms in the state’s registration department, will boost property transactions, provide financial relief to citizens, and give fresh momentum to economic activity in the state.
