ITC has increased the prices of selected cigarette brands again in September 2026, adding another round of price revisions for consumers in the Indian market. The latest increase affects products including Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star, according to recent reports based on dealer checks. Packs carrying the revised maximum retail prices have reportedly started entering the market.
Reports indicate that the price of a 20-cigarette pack of Classic Connect has increased from Rs 390 to Rs 428. This represents an increase of about 9.7 percent. The reported price of a 10-cigarette pack of Gold Flake Super Star has risen from Rs 79 to Rs 89, an increase of about 12.7 percent. The exact retail price paid by consumers may depend on the variant, pack size and availability of old and new stock in different markets.
The latest increase comes after a series of cigarette price revisions during 2026. Earlier in the year, cigarette companies increased prices following changes in the taxation structure applicable to tobacco products. From February 1, 2026, cigarettes became subject to a higher tax burden, including a 40 percent GST rate along with additional excise duties. The changes resulted in substantial price increases across several cigarette categories.
ITC had already increased prices of several of its cigarette brands following the February tax changes. Reports at the time showed that premium variants such as Gold Flake and Classic recorded substantial price increases, with some variants rising by more than 40 percent. However, the September revision is different from those earlier increases and involves selected products rather than a uniform increase across every ITC cigarette brand.
The February price adjustments were closely linked to the government's revised tobacco taxation framework. Analysts had expected cigarette manufacturers to raise retail prices to partly offset the additional tax burden. Business reports also noted that companies faced a balance between recovering higher taxes through prices and managing possible changes in consumer demand.
The latest increase means consumers purchasing the affected ITC variants may have to pay more once the revised-price stock replaces older inventory. Retailers may therefore continue to have different prices for a short period depending on when their existing stock was purchased and when the new-price packs arrive.
For Classic Connect, the reported increase from Rs 390 to Rs 428 for a 20-stick pack means the difference is Rs 38 per pack. For Gold Flake Super Star, the reported increase from Rs 79 to Rs 89 for a 10-stick pack represents an additional Rs 10 per pack. These figures are based on reported revised maximum retail prices and should not be treated as a universal price for every Gold Flake or Classic variant.
ITC's cigarette portfolio includes several brands and variants across different price points. Therefore, a price increase in one variant does not automatically mean that every product under the Gold Flake or Classic brands has received the same revision. Consumers should check the maximum retail price printed on the individual pack when purchasing cigarettes.
The repeated price increases also highlight the effect of India's changing tobacco taxation policy on cigarette prices. The new tax structure introduced in 2026 was designed to increase the tax burden on tobacco products. Industry analysts have subsequently tracked how cigarette manufacturers have adjusted retail prices and how those changes could affect volumes and consumer demand.
Earlier reports indicated that ITC implemented significant price increases across premium cigarette categories after the February tax changes. One report cited a 41 percent increase for certain Gold Flake and Classic variants, while Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star had different percentage increases depending on the product category.
The September 2026 increase is therefore part of a broader pattern of price adjustments in India's cigarette market this year. However, the latest reported increases for Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star are considerably smaller than the largest percentage increases reported earlier in the year.
Consumers should also note that tobacco products carry statutory health warnings because smoking is harmful to health. The price changes described in this report concern retail pricing and taxation and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to purchase or consume tobacco products.