Big question mark on whether GST reduction benefits will be passed on to consumers: Congress
GST
Dated:- 22-9-2025
PTI
New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) With reduced GST rates on several items coming into effect, the Congress on Monday said the “limited” reform comes eight years too late and a “big question mark” remains on whether the benefits of tax reduction will be passed on to consumers.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) was established under Section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, to monitor whether GST rate cuts resulted in the reduction of consumer prices but was rendered “toothless” by the Narendra Modi government with a notification issued of September 30, 2024.
“It should not be a case of 'vote chori' on one hand and 'munafakhori (profiteering)' on the other hand with the people not getting the benefits of the GST reduction,” Ramesh told PTI.
He also claimed tha
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mplexities have not been eased, which was much needed. There is also a big question mark on whether the benefits of tax reduction will be passed on to the consumers or not,” Ramesh said.
He asserted that this reform is not a “GST 2.0” that the Congress has been demanding, but at best can be termed “GST 1.5”.
The Congress on Sunday accused Modi of taking “sole ownership” of the amendments made to the GST regime and said the current reforms were inadequate, with outstanding issues, including states' demand for an extension of compensation for another five years, remaining unaddressed.
The opposition party slammed the reforms as “applying a band-aid after inflicting deep wounds” and said the government should apologise to the public for its GST on essential items.
In his address to the nation on Sunday, Modi said a “GST bachat utsav (savings festival)” will begin from the first day of Navratri, and coupled with the income tax exemption, it will be a “double bonanza” for most people.
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he thresholds that apply to interstate supplies,” he had said.
Ramesh had claimed that there were also sectoral issues, for instance, in textiles, tourism, exporters, handicrafts and agricultural inputs that must be tackled.
States should be incentivised to move towards the introduction of state-level GST to cover electricity, alcohol, petroleum and real estate as well, the Congress leader said.
“The key demand of the states made in the true spirit of cooperative federalism, namely, the extension of compensation for another five years to fully protect their revenues, remains unaddressed,” Ramesh had said.
From kitchen staples to electronics, from medicines and equipment to automobiles, goods and services became cheaper from Monday as the reduced GST rates on several items came into effect from September 22 the first day of the Navaratri.
The tax regime now assumes a two-tier structure, with the majority of goods and services attracting tax of 5 and 18 per cent, and ultra luxury i
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