India’s big GST shake-up kicked off today, promising real savings for everyday shoppers across the country. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the bold move, calling it a game-changer that lightens the load on households.
Vaishnaw spent time chatting with shopkeepers in New Delhi, spreading the word about these next-generation GST reforms. Speaking to reporters, he shared some festive cheer: “Happy Navratri to everyone! PM Modi made a historic call to slash tax slabs, and now every family stands to save big. The GST Bachat Utsav is here, and both shopkeepers and customers are thrilled. Folks will pocket savings on about 99% of daily essentials. A huge thanks to PM Modi for this.”
He also urged people to embrace swadeshi—homegrown Indian products—in their daily lives. “Let’s resolve to go local as much as we can,” Vaishnaw added.
The changes simplify things: Goodbye to the old four-slab GST system. Now, most goods fall under just two rates—5% and 18%. Luxury and sin items, like tobacco and high-end booze, stick with the 40% slab.
Good news for kitchen staples: UHT milk, pre-packaged paneer or chena, and traditional Indian breads now face zero GST. Everyday buys like soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tableware, and even bicycles drop to a friendly 5% GST rate. These tweaks mean lower prices on household essentials, boosting the India GST savings for millions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the rollout as a “double bonanza” timed perfectly for the festival season. Speaking at a public event in Itanagar, he said, “Starting today, we’ve launched next-generation GST reforms and kicked off GST Bachat Utsav. During this festive time, people get an extra gift of tax relief.”
At a GST Bachat Utsav gathering in Itanagar, Modi connected with local artisans and business leaders. He met entrepreneurs selling swadeshi treasures—from packaged milk to tasty food items—and spotlighted India’s homegrown pride. Modi even handed out placards saying “Garv se kaho, yeh swadeshi hai” (Say with pride, this is Indian-made). The shopkeepers beamed with joy, promising to display them front and center in their stores.
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