New Delhi– The government on Friday extended the time for jewellers to get registered with the central excise department by one month, till July 31, an official statement said.

The liability for payment of central excise duty will be with effect from March 1, 2016, a union finance ministry statement here said.

Jewellers can settle the excise dues for the months March to May along with that of June by July 31, it added.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in the current fiscal’s budget presented in February imposed 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery, provoking protests by jewellers across the country including by closure of shops.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs has already notified jewellers to get themselves registered with the excise department by July 1. (IANS)