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| Making GST Simpler | | | Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Centre intends to make the GST law simpler and revise tax rates.
PM Modi sought the cooperation of the States to implement the proposal before Diwali. He said the move would benefit the poor, the middle class, and businesses of all sizes.
The Centre has circulated the draft of next-generation GST reforms among states with an aim to expand the ambit of good governance.
PM Modi has announced that this Diwali, citizens will receive a double bonus through the GST reform. He has exuded hope that states would swiftly support the initiative, ensuring the new structure could be rolled out before the festive season.
Since its rollout in 2017, GST has been hailed as India’s most significant indirect tax reform, subsuming a maze of central and state levies. However, the complexity of four main tax slabs—5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%—along with frequent clarifications and revisions, has often caused confusion and compliance challenges.
By reducing the slabs to just two—5% and 18%—and introducing a single higher rate of 40% for demerit goods such as tobacco and online gaming, the Centre is aiming for greater simplicity, transparency, and stability.
The proposal to shift most goods from the 12% slab to 5%, and a majority of items from the 28% slab to 18%, is particularly significant. Household essentials such as butter, dry fruits, and fruit juices will now be more affordable, offering direct relief to middle-class families. Likewise, goods such as electronics and cement—currently taxed at the highest slab—will see a reduction, lowering costs for both consumers and industries.
This restructuring also seeks to address the persistent issue of input tax credit accumulation, which has often led to inefficiencies and repeated demands for revisions.
Of course, reforms of this scale come with short-term challenges. The government anticipates some revenue loss due to lower tax collections, but it is banking on higher consumption to balance the books.
A more affordable tax regime tends to encourage spending, and with Diwali being India’s peak consumption season, the timing of the reform could spur economic activity across sectors. This is not merely about easing the tax burden—it is also a strategic move to stimulate growth in an economy that continues to navigate global headwinds. Beyond numbers and slabs, the Prime Minister linked the reform to his larger vision of self-reliance. |
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