The Jharkhand Excise Department (JED) on March 26, 2026, issued amendments to the rules framed under the Jharkhand Excise Act, 1915, revising the framework governing settlement and operation of retail liquor shops in the State.
The amendment modifies key provisions relating to license tenure, renewal conditions, and financial compliance. Licenses will generally remain valid up to March 31, 2030 but will be granted on a yearly basis, subject to performance and compliance. The earlier requirement of achieving 95% of district-level revenue for renewal has been removed, while a minimum 10% annual increase in revenue benchmarks has been introduced for future renewals.
Further, the rules introduce operational flexibility through e-Bank Guarantee in place of traditional security deposits and establish a structured mechanism for handling unallotted shops. Where shops remain unallocated after multiple attempts, operations may be undertaken by Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited, ensuring continuity in revenue collection and regulated supply.
[Notification No. 01/05-03/2024-718]
