Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states have welcomed the sweeping Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling them “transformative” and “historic” steps for citizens and businesses alike.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the changes as “transformative measures,” stating that the Next-Generation GST reforms will simplify taxation, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen India’s economy.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta termed the announcement a “Diwali gift” for the people, highlighting that reduced GST rates on essential goods would directly benefit farmers, small traders, MSMEs, women, and youth, while easing the financial burden on middle-class households.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis lauded the abolition of the 12% and 28% GST slabs, calling it a “truly historic reform.” He welcomed the move to exempt health and life insurance from GST, describing it as a “massive relief” that improves citizens’ ease of living.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma called the reforms “one of the most consequential” in India’s GST journey. He said the revised tax structure would boost small and medium businesses, spur job creation, and put more disposable income in people’s hands.
Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu described the changes as “pro-poor and growth-oriented,” praising the government for rationalising slabs across essentials like education, healthcare, and agriculture.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant also welcomed the move, stating that all members had agreed on rationalising GST rates.
The Finance Minister, after the 56th GST Council meeting on Wednesday, announced that the GST structure would be simplified to just two slabs of 5% and 18% by merging the existing 12% and 28% categories. The reforms will cover a wide range of essential goods, automobiles, agriculture inputs, and electronic appliances, providing relief to households, businesses, and the healthcare sector.
