New Delhi, Sep 4: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Wednesday attended the 56th Meeting of the GST Council held in New Delhi under the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and in the presence of Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. The meeting was also attended by Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers of several States and Union Territories, along with senior officials of the Ministry.
The Council deliberated upon India’s next-generation GST reforms, with a focus on rationalisation of tax rates, simplification of compliance, and correction of inverted duty structures.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Government has reduced GST on several items across different categories, with the new rates coming into effect from 22nd of this month.
GST on everyday items such as hair oil, toilet soap, soap bars, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bicycles, tableware, kitchenware, and other household articles were reduced from 12% or 18% to 5%. GST on ultra-high temperature milk, chena, paneer was reduced from 5% to nil.
All Indian breads brought under nil rate.
GST on food items including namkeen, bhujia, sauces, pasta, instant noodles, chocolates, coffee, preserved meat, cornflakes, butter, and ghee were reduced from 12% or 18% to 5%.
GST on items like air-conditioning machines, televisions above 32 inches, all types of TVs, and dishwashing machines was reduced from 28% to 18%. GST on all agricultural equipment was reduced from 12% to 5%.
For the automotive sector, GST on small cars and motorcycles up to 350 cc reduced from 28% to 18%. GST on buses, trucks, and ambulances reduced from 28% to 18%. GST on three-wheelers reduced from 28% to 18%. Uniform GST rate of 18% on all auto parts.
For the health sector, GST on 33 life-saving drugs and medicines was reduced from 12% to nil. GST reduced from 5% to nil Page 2.. 
....Mein attends 56th GST council
on 3 critical life-saving drugs used in treatment of cancer, rare diseases, and other severe chronic diseases.
GST reduced from 12% to 5% on several other drugs and medicines.
For the insurance sector, exemption of GST on all individual life insurance policies, whether term life, ULIP, or endowment policies, along with reinsurance. Exemption of GST on all individual health insurance policies, including family floater policies and policies for senior citizens, along with reinsurance.
The Finance Minister underlined that these wide-ranging measures, strongly supported by labour-intensive industries and welcomed by the farming and agriculture sector, are designed to ease the burden on citizens while strengthening the overall economy. She highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the tone for next-generation tax reforms, ensuring that people receive benefits at the earliest. The government has also corrected inverted duty structure issues, resolved classification-related matters, and worked towards greater stability and predictability in the GST regime.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 56th GST Council meeting. He stated “The decisions taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reflect the government’s strong commitment to ease of living for citizens, ease of doing business for enterprises, and long-term growth for the economy. These reforms will benefit farmers, MSMEs, the middle class, women, and youth alike. Arunachal Pradesh will continue to play a proactive role in ensuring that these benefits reach every section of society.”
The 56th GST Council meeting marks a landmark step in India’s economic journey, bringing the country closer to a transparent, simplified, and growth-oriented indirect taxation system aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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