<h1>Finance Minister Proposes Replacing Education Cess with 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on Imports; Some Goods Exempt or Reduced.</h1> The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs proposed the abolition of the Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education Cess on imported goods, replacing them with a Social Welfare Surcharge. This surcharge, set at 10% of the aggregate customs duties, aims to fund government social welfare schemes. Goods previously exempt from the Education Cesses will remain exempt from this surcharge. Additionally, certain specified goods will incur a reduced surcharge rate of 3% of the aggregate customs duties.