(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Pune merchants are buzzing with excitement as India’s new GST 2.0 reforms kick in today, promising simpler taxes and a big revenue boost for businesses.
Local traders in Pune, Maharashtra, see the changes as a game-changer. They expect their sales to double thanks to fewer tax complications and lower prices that draw in more customers. Rai Kumar Nahar, chairman of The Poona Merchant Chamber, shared his thoughts with : “The old GST had four slabs with different rates, which caused lots of errors. Now with just two slabs, mistakes will drop, and most products will stick to one rate. This could easily double our revenue.”
Navin Goyal, vice president of the Pune Dry Fruit Association and a director at the chamber, called the reforms a “great gift” for both sellers and buyers. “It makes paying taxes straightforward, so people can grab dry fruits and other goods without hassle. This benefits traders and consumers alike,” he told .
Prashant Girbane, director general of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), agreed that the update was long overdue. He highlighted how it simplifies the system from the 2017 setup of four or five rates down to mainly two: 5% and 18%. Luxury and sin goods keep the 40% rate, while essentials often hit 0%. “This sparks more buying, kicks off a positive economic cycle, and goes beyond just cutting rates—it’s a real boost for growth,” Girbane said.
The GST Council approved these tweaks at its 56th meeting earlier this month, scrapping the four-rate structure for a cleaner two-slab approach starting September 22. Experts say it will cut red tape, slash consumer costs, fire up manufacturing, and help sectors from farming and cars to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and green energy. Overall, it aims to ease daily expenses, empower small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), expand the tax net, and fuel fairer economic progress.
In the FMCG and dairy world, big players are already passing on savings. Amul and Mother Dairy announced sharp price drops after shifting items like milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, ice cream, snacks, and frozen foods to the 5% slab. For example, 100 grams of Amul butter now costs Rs 58, down from Rs 62. Amul’s Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk dips to Rs 75 per liter from Rs 77. Mother Dairy followed suit, trimming prices on milkshakes, paneer, ghee, and frozen items.
Traders hope these GST reforms will make shopping easier and business smoother across India.
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