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While the market was anticipating a cut in GST rates for term and health policies, analysts at JM Financial said, the exemption on savings-oriented life products came as a positive surprise.
With the GST Council approving a complete overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, the Congress on Thursday termed it a "GST 1.5" and said time alone will tell whether it would stimulate private investment as well as ease the burden on MSMEs. The opposition party asserted that the wait for a "true GST 2.0" continues. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that a key demand of the states made in the true spirit of cooperative federalism '? namely, the extension of compensation for another five years to fully protect their revenues'? remains unaddressed. In fact, that demand assumes even greater importance now, he said. The Indian National Congress has for long been advocating for a GST 2.0 that reduces the number of rates, cuts the rates on a large number of items of mass consumption, minimises evasion, mis-classification, and disputes, does away with inverted duty structure '? lower tax on output as compared to inputs '? eases the complia
GST Council meet: GST on farm machinery, tractors, fertilisers and other agri items cut to 5 per cent from higher rates, giving relief to farmers
Indian Rupee today: The domestic currency opened one paise higher at 88.06 against the greenback on Thursday
Under the two-slab system, the GST Council has scrapping 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates. Now, essential items like food, medicines, and books fall under zero and 5 per cent rates
The GST Council's 56th meeting has notified sweeping changes effective September 22, impacting goods and services from milk and medicines to cars, coal and casinos
The next-generation GST reforms mark a defining moment in India's journey towards building a simpler, fairer, and more inclusive tax system, Mahindra Group CEO & MD Anish Shah said on Wednesday. Reacting to the GST Council's decision to overhaul the tangled Goods and Services Tax (GST), Shah said the Mahindra group views these reforms as transformative as it simplifies compliance, expands affordability, and energises consumption, while enabling industry to invest with greater confidence. "The next-generation GST reforms announced today mark a defining moment in India's journey towards building a simpler, fairer, and more inclusive tax system," he said in a statement. Shah further said by moving to a streamlined two-rate structure and focusing on essentials that touch the lives of every citizen- from food, health, and insurance to agriculture and small businesses - the government has "reaffirmed its commitment to ease of living and ease of doing business". "The rationalisation ...
In a post on X late Wednesday, the former Union finance minister said the current GST design and rates should not have been introduced in the first place
Stocks to Watch today: Various sectors will be buzzing after the GST revamp. BHEL, Can Fin Homes, Force Motors, and Jio Financial are other stocks to watch today, September 04, 2025
The GST Council has approved a simplified two-rate structure, cut tax on essentials and exempted life and health insurance premiums, though opposition states flagged revenue concerns
The 56th meeting of the GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state ministers, on Wednesday started deliberations on 'next-gen GST' reforms, which will lower tax rates on items of mass consumption, remove duty inversion in sectors, like textiles, and ease compliance burden for MSMEs. The Council, over the next two days, will discuss reducing the number of slabs in GST to just two -- 5 per cent and 18 per cent -- and removing the 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs. Also, a special 40 per cent tax has been proposed on a select few items, including tobacco and ultra-luxury goods. As per the sweeping rate change proposal put forth by the Centre and vetted by a group of state finance ministers, as many as 99 per cent of items in the 12 per cent category, such as butter, fruit juices and dry fruits, would move to a 5 per cent tax rate. Similarly, electronic items like ACs, TVs, fridges, and washing machines, as well as other goods like cement, will be .
Finance ministers of opposition-ruled states on Wednesday met ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting, and decided to seek compensation for revenue loss incurred by all states following the implementation of GST rate rejig. Eight opposition-ruled states -- Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal-- had met last week to decide on how their revenues could be protected once the 12 and 28 per cent slabs are removed. Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said his state will suffer a Rs 2,000 crore revenue loss if the Centre's GST reform proposal of reducing the number of slabs is implemented. "If the Centre agrees to compensate us for whatever loss we would incur, turn we have no issues in approving the agenda before the Council. I don't think the issue will come up for voting, as in a federal structure, it is the responsibility of the Centre to compensate states for revenue loss," Kishore told reporters here after the ...
Garments and apparel as well as footwear priced above ₹2,500 are likely to attract 18 per cent GST, while those below this threshold are expected to be taxed at 5 per cent, sources said
This article visually summarises, in two tables, how not-simple the GST is, which leads to serious but under-recognised problems of arbitrary and coercive implementation
CMAI has opposed reports of a GST hike on garments above ₹2,500 to 18%, warning it will hurt middle-class consumers, traditional crafts and an industry hit by tariff wars
The Indian Beverage Association has written to the Finance Ministry seeking a GST cut on aerated drinks to 18%, citing Rs 85,000 crore investment, job creation and rural demand
The panel recommended raising the GST rate to 18per cent from 5per cent currently for EVs priced between 2 million and 4 million rupees ($23,000-$46,000)
The next generation GST reforms would 'absolutely' set an economy open and transparent with further reduction in compliance burden and benefiting small businesses, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday . She was speaking at the 120th Foundation Day celebrations of Tamil Nadu-based City Union Bank, where President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest. Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced the creation of a Task Force for next generation reforms with a clearer mandate to simplify regulations, lower compliance costs and also build a more enabling ecosystems for startups, Micro, Small and Medium enterprises and entrepreneurs. "Complementing this, the planned roll out of the next generation GST reforms with the planned Council meeting tomorrow and day after, will set an economy absolutely open and transparent in the coming months and with further reduction in compliance burden, making it easier for small businesses to thrive" Sitharaman said.
The 56th GST Council meeting on September 3-4 may decide on rate rationalisation, tax cuts on essentials, and compensation measures for states. All you need to know
Maruti Suzuki's volumes dipped marginally by 0.6 per cent Y-o-Y to 181,000 units, with export growth of 40.5 per cent Y-o-Y offset by a 7.5 per cent drop in domestic sales.