Shimla, Sept. 4 -- Despite opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Thursday passed the Indian Stamp (Himachal Pradesh Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, reducing stamp duty for women purchasing property worth up to Rs.1 crore from 8% to 4%.

Terming it a step towards "women empowerment", chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the move was aimed at encouraging property purchases in the name of women.

Under the amended provisions, women will pay 4% stamp duty on property purchases up to Rs.1 crore, while properties valued above Rs.1 crore will attract 8% duty for both women and other buyers. For men and other buyers, the duty will be 6% on properties valued up to Rs.40 lakh and 8% on those above Rs...