Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has reduced securities transaction tax (STT) during his presentation of Budget 2012-13. According to estimates, STT accounts for 51% of the transaction cost in stock markets.
The securities transaction tax (STT) has been reduced to 0.1%, which is going to reduce the cost of equity transactions. The STT has been reduced by 20% (from 0.125% to 0.1%) on cash delivery transactions,"