Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday hailed the rollout of next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the move and stating that households across India will now see significant savings.
Meeting shopkeepers in the national capital to spread awareness about the reforms, Vaishnaw said, “I want to wish everyone for Navratri. PM Narendra Modi has taken a historic decision to reduce the tax slabs, which will help every household save. Bachat Mahotsav has begun. Shopkeepers and customers both are very happy… People will save money on about 99 per cent of daily use items. I thank PM Modi for this.”
The minister also urged citizens to strengthen the country’s economy by embracing local products. “We need to make one more resolution to use swadeshi as much as possible in our day-to-day life,” he added.
Under the new GST regime, the earlier four-slab structure has been replaced with two slabs—5% and 18%—while retaining a 40% slab for luxury and sin goods. Daily essentials such as UHT milk, pre-packaged paneer, and Indian breads are now exempt from GST, while household products like soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tableware, and bicycles fall under the 5% category.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, speaking at a public event in Itanagar, described the reforms as a “double bonanza” for people during the festive season. At a GST Bachat Utsav in Arunachal Pradesh, he interacted with artisans, small entrepreneurs, and shopkeepers, distributing placards that read “Garv se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai” to encourage pride in local products.
The government hopes the new framework will reduce costs, simplify compliance, and give a boost to consumers, MSMEs, and a wide range of industries.
