(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the nation through a video conference from New Delhi on Sunday, highlighting how recent cuts to GST rates will lighten the load on people’s wallets. These changes make homes, cars, bikes, and everyday items like TVs and refrigerators more affordable for everyone.
Modi launched the nationwide GST Bachat Utsav, or Savings Festival, calling it a big win for Aatmanirbhar Bharat—India’s push for self-reliance—and shared growth. He explained that lower GST means families can chase their dreams easier, from building a house to buying a scooter or booking a hotel room for travel, all at reduced costs.
Shopkeepers are jumping on board, Modi noted with a smile. They’re passing savings directly to customers and putting up signs that show old prices versus new ones. This enthusiasm shows how the GST reforms are already making a difference in daily life.
As Navratri kicks off—the festival honoring Shakti—Modi tied the timing to India’s progress. Starting at sunrise on September 22, the country rolls out next-generation GST changes. This Savings Festival, he said, will help people save more and grab their favorite products without breaking the bank. The perks reach the poor, middle class, young folks, farmers, women, shop owners, traders, and business starters alike.
In this festive season, Modi predicted, every home will feel more joyful. He wished millions of families well for the reforms and the festival, saying they’ll speed up India’s growth, simplify business, attract investments, and let every state join the development race equally.
Modi looked back at India’s tax troubles before 2017. Back then, a tangle of taxes like Octroi, entry tax, sales tax, excise, VAT, and service tax created chaos. Moving goods from one city to another meant endless checkpoints, forms, and varying rules. He shared a wild story from 2014: A foreign newspaper reported a company shipping items from Bengaluru to Hyderabad—only 570 km away—via Europe because the local route was such a hassle.
That mess, Modi said, hit everyone hard, especially the poor, as higher transport costs trickled down to shoppers. Right after taking office in 2014, his government made GST a top priority. Through talks with states and stakeholders, they fixed concerns and rolled out the “One Nation, One Tax” system in 2017, ending the old nightmare.
But reforms don’t stop there. With India’s needs changing, these new GST updates focus on the future. Now, most slabs are just 5% and 18%, making daily essentials cheaper. Food, medicines, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and health or life insurance? Many go tax-free or hit only 5%. Nearly all items once at 12% now fall under 5%.
Over the last 11 years, 250 million Indians escaped poverty, forming a vibrant neo-middle class with big dreams. This year, the government made income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free, easing middle-class life. Now, the poor and neo-middle class get a double boost: that income relief plus GST cuts. Together, these moves save Indians over Rs 2.5 lakh crore—hence the Bachat Utsav name. It’s all about treating citizens like gods, Modi emphasized.
To build a developed India, self-reliance is key, and MSMEs—micro, small, and medium enterprises—play a huge role. Produce what people need right here, he urged. Lower GST and simpler rules will cut their taxes, boost sales, and give small businesses a real edge. MSMEs have always been India’s economic backbone, and Modi wants their products to shine globally again, meeting top standards and boosting national pride.
Just like Swadeshi fueled India’s freedom fight, it can power prosperity today. Modi pointed out how foreign goods sneak into our routines—we might not even notice if our comb is imported. Time to break free: Buy Made in India items, crafted with the sweat of our youth. Make every home and shop a Swadeshi hub. Declare it proudly—I buy Swadeshi, I sell Swadeshi—and watch India speed toward development.
Modi called on state governments to fuel Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Swadeshi by ramping up local manufacturing, drawing investments, and creating the right vibe. When the center and states team up, he said, self-reliant India becomes real, every state thrives, and we hit developed-nation status.
Wrapping up, Modi sent warm Navratri greetings and cheers for the GST Bachat Utsav.
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