Nirmala Sitharaman announces significant simplification in GST to dual rate structure of 5 pc and 18 pc

NEW DELHI: In a significant simplification in the GST regime, which will benefit the common man, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday announced consolidation of 12 per cent and 18 per cent slabs into a dual rate structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent besides 40 per cent for sin goods.

The simplification is part of the ‘Next-Generation GST’ reform initiative, designed to boost affordability, consumption, and economic efficiency.

“In common man and middle class items, there is a complete reduction. This reform is not just about rationalising rates. It’s also on structural reforms. It’s also about ease of living, so that businesses can conduct their operations with the GST with great ease. We’ve reduced the slabs. There shall be only two slabs, and we are also addressing the issues of compensation cess”, Nirmala Sitharaman said at a late evening press conference.

#WATCH | Delhi: After the 56th GST Council meeting, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, “In common man and middle class items, there is a complete reduction.”

Items on which GST has been reduced to 5%- hair oil, toilet soap, soap bars, shampoos, toothbrushes,… pic.twitter.com/jaHxlmsVbS

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025

“These reforms have been carried out with a focus on the common man. Every tax on the common man’s daily use items has undergone a rigorous review, and, in most cases, the rates have come down drastically. Labour-intensive industries have been given good support. Farmers and the agriculture sector, as well as the health sector, will benefit”, Sitharaman said.

“We have corrected inverted duty structure problems, we’ve resolved classification-related issues, and we’ve ensured that there will be stability and predictability about the GST. We’ve reduced the slabs. There shall be only two slabs, and we are also addressing the issues of compensation, ease of living, simplifying registration, return filing and refunds”, she added.

Items on which GST has been reduced to 5 per cent include hair oil, toilet soap, soap bars, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bicycles, tableware, kitchenware, and other household articles. Items on which GST has been reduced to zero from 5 per cent include ultra-high temperature milk, chena and paneer. All Indian breads will be available at a nil rate. So roti or paratha or whatever it is, they all come to nil.

The GST Council has approved significant reforms today. These reforms have a multi-sectoral and multi-thematic focus, aimed at ensuring ease of living for all citizens and ease of doing business for all: Office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/7yg9zELOvs

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025

There is a reduction of GST from 12 per cent or from 18 per cent to 5 per cent on food items — namkeen, bhujiya, sauces, pasta, instant noodles, chocolates, coffee, preserved meat, cornflakes, butter, and ghee. All these will be in 5 per cent category. She announced reduction from 28 per cent to 18 per cent on air conditioning machines, dishwashing machines, small cars. Motorcycles equal to or less than 350 cc are all now coming to 18 per cent.

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that next-generation GST reforms by Diwali will reduce taxes on daily essentials, benefiting MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth and creating a more efficient, citizen-friendly economy. (ANI)