Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms as a game-changer on Sunday. He called them a historic move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government that will slash prices on everyday items and give a major lift to India’s economy and the Atmanirbhar Bharat self-reliance push.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said these second-generation GST reforms represent a bold step forward. “Prices of daily-use products will drop, and people will benefit hugely from it,” he explained. “This will supercharge the Indian economy and take us closer to Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi rallied the nation to embrace Swadeshi ideals and choose Made in India products as the new GST changes kick in on September 22—the start of Shardiya Navaratri. In a national address, he urged families and shops to make Swadeshi a way of life. “We need to turn every home into a symbol of Swadeshi… every shop stocked with products made right here in our country,” Modi said.
Modi dubbed the reforms a “Bachat Utsav,” or savings festival, tying them to the government’s “Nagrik Devo Bhava” approach—treating citizens like gods. He highlighted how combining these GST tweaks with income tax exemptions will save Indians more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore in just one year. “We’re following the mantra of putting people first, and these next-gen GST reforms show it,” he added.
The prime minister stressed self-reliance as India’s road to becoming a developed nation. Lower GST rates and simpler rules will directly help small businesses and MSMEs, which play a huge role in Atmanirbhar Bharat. “To build a strong India, we must rely on ourselves,” Modi said. “MSMEs have a big job in making that happen—what our people need, we should produce here at home. These changes will ease things for small industries, cottage units, and boost sales while cutting their tax burdens.”
He linked today’s push to the Swadeshi movement during India’s fight for independence, saying it’s key to economic strength. “Just like Swadeshi powered our freedom struggle, it will fuel our prosperity now,” Modi noted. “Made in India products carry the hard work and sweat of our youth—the sons and daughters of this soil. Let’s support them by buying local.”
Approved at the GST Council’s 56th meeting earlier this month, the reforms simplify the old four-rate system into a cleaner two-slab setup: 5% and 18%. Luxury and sin goods keep a 40% rate. Experts expect this to make compliance easier, bring down consumer costs, spark manufacturing growth, and aid sectors from agriculture and automobiles to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and renewable energy.
It’ll also widen the tax base, cut living expenses, empower MSMEs, and promote inclusive growth. The textile and handicrafts sectors stand to gain big, with fixes to inverted duties on man-made fibers and a drop in GST on yarn and fibers to 5%.
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