Business Finance

GST Council Approves Simplified Tax Slabs

By BPN News Desk September 7, 2025

In the 56th GST Council meeting, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new, simplified Goods and Services Tax structure. The overhaul reduces GST to two main slabs—5% and 18%—alongside a 40% rate for certain high-end or “sin” goods. Changes Aimed At Simplification And Relief The restructuring shifts hundreds of items, including everyday essentials like packaged

Business Finance

August UPI Hits Record 20B Transactions Despite Gaming Ban

By BPN News Desk September 6, 2025

UPI crossed a new milestone in August 2025 by processing 20.01 billion transactions in a single month. This marked the first time UPI volume went past the 20 billion mark. The total transaction value was ₹24.85 lakh crore, slightly lower than July’s ₹25.08 lakh crore. On average, UPI handled 645 million transactions a day, amounting […]

Business Finance

Nirmala Sitharaman Demands GST Cuts Reach Consumers

By BPN News Desk September 5, 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said businesses must ensure that GST rate reductions are reflected in retail prices, not absorbed as extra profits. She added that the government has put in place a monitoring system to track compliance and will intervene where needed. GST 2.0 Structure The new GST framework, effective from September 22, simplifies the […]

Business Finance

GST Council Rolls Out Two-Slab Tax, Adds 40% ‘Sin’ Tier

By BPN News Desk September 4, 2025

The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has approved sweeping reforms to India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST), effective from 22 September 2025, coinciding with the Navratri festival. New GST Structure Under the new framework, the existing four tax slabs—5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%—are replaced by a simplified two-slab structure of 5% and […]

Business Finance

GST Council Meets to Discuss Major Rate Changes

By BPN News Desk September 3, 2025

The 56th GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, began a two-day meeting in New Delhi on September 3. The meeting includes representatives from the Centre and states to discuss major reforms in India’s indirect tax system. Simplifying the Tax Structure One of the key proposals is to replace the current four-tier GST system […]

Business Finance

RBI Holds Talks with Exporters as US Tariffs Loom

By BPN News Desk August 26, 2025

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started consultations with exporters to understand what support they may need as the US prepares to impose steep tariffs on Indian goods. These discussions are expected to continue through the week, with small and medium-sized enterprises flagged as the most at risk. Tariff Impact on Exports The US […]

Business Finance

New GST Rates Likely by Dussehra as Revenue Shortfall Looms

By BPN News Desk August 25, 2025

The government is preparing to revamp the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure by Dussehra. The new plan includes two primary slabs of 5% and 18%, along with a 40% levy on luxury and sin goods. The proposal will be discussed in the upcoming GST Council meeting in early September, with implementation likely around the […]

Business Finance

GST Council to Meet Sept 3–4 on Two-Slab Reform

By BPN News Desk August 23, 2025

The 56th GST Council meeting will be held on September 3 and 4, 2025, in New Delhi. Both sessions will begin at 11 a.m., while a preparatory officers’ meeting is scheduled for September 2. Proposal for Two Main Slabs The Centre is expected to present a proposal to reduce the goods and services tax (GST) […]

Business Finance

FM to Head GST Panel Talks on Reforms

By BPN News Desk August 20, 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will brief three ministerial groups of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in New Delhi this week. The groups will discuss rate rationalisation, health and life insurance, and phasing out the compensation cess. Proposal to Simplify GST Slabs The government is considering moving from the current four-tier structure to two […]

Business Finance

Government May Slash GST on Health and Term Insurance

By BPN News Desk August 19, 2025

The Indian government is considering a cut in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health and term insurance premiums, potentially reducing it from the current 18% to 5% or even zero. This move is part of a broader GST restructuring—dubbed “GST 2.0”—aimed at simplifying tax slabs and easing the tax burden on citizens and […]