New GST Rates Likely by Dussehra as Revenue Shortfall Looms

By BPN News Desk August 25, 2025

Business Finance

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

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) […]

Government Policies National

GoM Backs Scrapping 12% and 28% GST Slabs

By BPN News Desk August 21, 2025

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation has approved the Centre’s proposal to simplify the goods and services tax system. The panel has recommended scrapping the 12% and 28% slabs and consolidating the structure into just two major rates — 5% for essential and merit goods and 18% for standard items. Shift of […]

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 […]

Business

Maruti Shares Jump Most in 5 Years on GST Cut Hopes

By BPN News Desk August 18, 2025

Maruti Suzuki India shares surged nearly 8%, recording their biggest single-day gain in almost five years. The rise followed government proposals to reduce GST on small cars from 28% to 18%, sparking investor optimism across the auto sector. Tax Reform Trigger The government recently announced a move to simplify the Goods and Services Tax (GST) […]

Business Industry

Coimbatore MSMEs Hope for Lower GST Rates

By BPN News Desk August 17, 2025

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Coimbatore have raised concerns over the impact of high Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on their operations. Manufacturers and suppliers in sectors such as textiles, foundry, engineering tools, and pump sets argue that current tax slabs have increased input costs and reduced profit margins. Many also point […]

Expert Opinions Opinion

From Diwali Discounts to Demand Surges: Why GST Reform Could Be 2025’s Big Economic Story

By BPN News Desk August 15, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 15 announcement of next-generation GST reforms, set for implementation by Diwali 2025, is more than just a festive season headline. It’s a structural overhaul designed to touch both the everyday essentials that drive rural markets and the big-ticket items that sway urban consumption patterns. By targeting two critical slabs — […]

Business Finance

India Plans 2-Slab GST System by Diwali

By BPN News Desk August 15, 2025

The government has proposed reforms to simplify the Goods and Services Tax (GST) into a two-slab system, targeting implementation by Diwali to reduce the tax burden on everyday items and benefit small businesses. Proposed Restructuring The Finance Ministry has submitted a proposal to the Group of Ministers to consolidate the existing four-rate GST structure (5%, […]

Op-Eds Opinion

The Middle Class Squeeze: How Policy Changes Like GST and UPI Fees Burden Ordinary Indians

By BPN News Desk July 26, 2025

India’s middle class has always been the backbone of the nation’s economic aspirations. They are the early adopters of new technologies, the primary drivers of consumption, and the segment that most willingly embraces government initiatives aimed at modernization. Yet, time and again, they find themselves bearing the heaviest burden when policies shift from