Rules checked 26 October 2026
India duty-free alcohol allowance: how many bottles you can bring
Each adult can bring 2 litres of alcohol into India without paying duty. That's two 1 litre bottles, or two 700 ml bottles with room to spare. Three 700 ml bottles (2.1 litres) are over the limit.
The limit comes from the Baggage Rules, 2026 (Notification 14/2026-Customs (N.T.)), which replaced the 2016 rules on 2 February 2026. The 2 litre figure didn't change.
What 2 litres looks like in bottles
Duty-free shops sell whisky in 1 L, 750 ml and 700 ml bottles, so the count of bottles depends on the size. Here are some common combinations:
| Bottles | Total | Within 2 L? |
|---|---|---|
| 2 × 1 L | 2 L | Yes |
| 1 L + 750 ml | 1.75 L | Yes |
| 1 L + 700 ml | 1.7 L | Yes |
| 2 × 750 ml | 1.5 L | Yes |
| 2 × 700 ml | 1.4 L | Yes |
| 3 × 700 ml | 2.1 L | No, over the limit |
| 3 × 750 ml | 2.25 L | No, over the limit |
| 2 × 1 L + a 50 ml miniature | 2.05 L | No, over the limit |
The limit covers all alcohol together, so wine counts towards the same 2 litres as whisky.
Who gets the allowance
- Every adult passenger arriving by air or sea: Indian residents, tourists of Indian origin and foreign tourists alike.
- Per person, not per family. Allowances can't be pooled, so a couple can bring 4 litres between them, but one of them can't carry all 4.
- Not infants. They get personal effects only.
- Not by land. Arriving by land, only used personal effects are duty free.
Separately, each adult has a general duty-free allowance by value for everything else they bring: ₹75,000 for residents and tourists of Indian origin, ₹25,000 for foreign tourists.
If you bring more than 2 litres
- Walk through the red channel and declare the extra alcohol (or declare it on the customs baggage declaration).
- Customs charges duty on it at the tariff rate for spirits, which is high.
- Undeclared alcohol over the limit can be seized, and you can be fined.
Buying on the way: departure, transit and arrival
- Arrival duty free counts. Indian airports such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru have duty-free shops before customs, and what you buy there is part of the same 2 litres.
- Connecting flights. Bottles bought before your last flight must stay in the sealed duty-free bag (STEB) with the receipt inside to pass transfer security. Don't open the bag until you reach India.
- States have their own rules. Customs allows 2 litres at the airport, but some states ban or limit alcohol, for example Bihar and Gujarat. Check the rules where you are going.
Where to compare prices
Whisky prices vary a lot between airports. Enter your route on the route planner to see which airport on your trip is cheapest for each bottle, or open a price list:
- Delhi duty free
- Mumbai duty free
- Bengaluru duty free
- Hyderabad duty free
- Kochi duty free
- Dubai duty free
- Singapore Changi duty free
Common questions
How much alcohol can I bring into India duty free?
Two litres per adult passenger, in total across all alcoholic drinks, wine included. This is set by Annexure-I of the Baggage Rules, 2026, in force since 2 February 2026.
Can I bring three bottles of whisky into India?
Only if they add up to 2 litres or less. Three 700 ml bottles come to 2.1 litres, which is over the limit; two 1 litre bottles are exactly 2 litres.
Does whisky bought at arrival duty free count?
Yes. Bottles bought in the arrival duty-free shop in India are part of your baggage and count towards the same 2 litres.
Can my family combine their allowances?
No. The Baggage Rules, 2026 say one passenger's allowance can't be pooled with another's, so each adult carries their own 2 litres. Infants get no alcohol allowance.
What happens if I bring more than 2 litres?
Declare it in the red channel. Customs charges duty on it at the tariff rate for spirits, which is steep. Alcohol over the limit that isn't declared can be seized and you can be fined.
Does the 2 litre limit apply to foreign tourists?
Yes. Foreign tourists have a smaller general allowance (₹25,000 against ₹75,000), but the 2 litre alcohol limit is the same for every adult passenger.
This guide summarises the Baggage Rules, 2026 as of 26 October 2026. It isn't legal advice, and customs officers have the final say. For the official text, see the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).