Reinforcing GST Amendments to Increase Financial Benefits for the Common Citizen, according to Sitharaman
In a significant move, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the GST reforms in India during August 2025, focusing on rate rationalization and implementation within that period, particularly around mid to late August. The aim of the GST rate rejig was to make life easier for businesses and households, as well as to support MSMEs, farmers, and sectors that create jobs and have export potential.
Sitharaman highlighted that the GST Council, a prime example of cooperative federalism, being the only constitutional body created since independence, played a crucial role in the GST rate rejig. The decision aimed to reduce the tax burden on consumers and improve liquidity in the economy.
As a result of the GST rate rejig, 90 percent of items under the 28 percent tax slab slipped into the 18 percent bracket, while 99 percent of goods under the 12 percent GST slab moved to a 5 percent slab. This shift has contributed to a significant increase in the number of taxpayers, with the number rising from 65 lakh to 1.51 crore.
The GST revenues have also seen a substantial growth, with the total revenue reaching Rs 22.08 lakh crore in 2025, as compared to Rs 7.19 lakh crore when it was introduced in 2018. The Finance Minister also stated that the next-gen GST reforms are expected to bring Rs 2 lakh crore into the economy.
Sitharaman also took a political stance, describing the previous tax structures under the UPA regime as "tax terrorism." She also mentioned that the implementation of GST was a lengthy process, taking ten years under the UPA government.
In addition, Sitharaman announced that the Supreme Court has ordered states and UTs to notify rules to register Sikh weddings, although no additional information was provided regarding the Sikh wedding registration rules.
Despite the opportunity to give a political retort about the UPA government's inability to implement GST, Sitharaman chose not to do so, maintaining a focus on the benefits of the GST rate rejig for the Indian economy.
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