India’s ₹200 Meal Voucher Revolution
BIZ MASALA | SIGNATURE BUSINESS STORY A tax change could reshape employee benefits. But can digital providers turn the opportunity into sustained, profitable growth? BY MURTHY ASR • BIZ MASALA The meal benefit is evolving from a paper coupon into a digital employee-benefits service. Illustrative editorial image. THE BIG QUESTION Will the higher qualifying meal-value threshold simply change salary structuring—or help build a larger fintech and enterprise-software market around employee benefits? The ₹200 change: what has actually changed? India’s notified Income-tax Rules, 2026 set a ₹200-per-meal limit for qualifying free food and non-alcoholic beverages provided during working hours at an employer’s office or business premises, or through paid vouchers usable only at eating joints. The rules took effect on April 1, 2026. The threshold is four times the earlier ₹50 amount. The distinction between a qualifying threshold and an employ...