Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called upon Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to actively promote the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and the “Make in India” campaign.
The Prime Minister’s directive, issued during a meeting, emphasises direct engagement with traders and the general public within their respective constituencies to explain the benefits of these key economic initiatives. The government believes these measures will reduce the tax burden on citizens and stimulate broader economic growth.
According to sources, the meeting centered on the implementation of what the government is terming "GST 2.0." During the session, Prime Minister Modi instructed all MPs to organise a series of conferences—specifically, 20 to 30 events—to connect with local traders and shopkeepers. The primary objective of these gatherings is to clearly explain the advantages of the simplified tax system, which is slated to be implemented from September 22. The revised tax structure will streamline the system into two primary tax slabs: 5pc and 18pc.
Fostering 'Make in India' and 'Swadeshi'
In addition to the GST outreach, the Prime Minister also urged MPs to organise indigenous fairs. These events, to be held between the festivals of Navratri and Diwali, are intended to encourage the public to purchase products manufactured in India. He emphasised that in order to support local economies, these fairs ought to showcase the creations of regional artisans as well as micro and small businesses.
Additionally, members of parliament were instructed to host exhibitions in a variety of sectors within their districts. These exhibitions are to be conducted under the patriotic theme “Say with pride, this is Swadeshi.”
Prime Minister Modi has consistently described the latest round of GST reforms as a significant milestone in India’s economic journey. The simplified structure, effective from September 22, will introduce the two main slabs of 5pc and 18pc.
The Prime Minister stated that these changes are designed to ease the financial burden on households, farmers, youth, and the middle class by reducing taxes on essential goods, vehicles, appliances, and healthcare services.
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Lowering Taxes for Affordability and Savings
Earlier, while addressing National Awardee Teachers in New Delhi on Thursday, PM Modi highlighted the stark contrast between the pre- and post-2014 tax regimes. He noted that prior to 2014, basic goods and services were subject to taxes ranging from 17pc to 28pc.
He provided specific examples to illustrate the impact of the new tax structure, stating, "Before 2014, basic goods and services carried taxes ranging from 17pc to 28pc. Today, items like cement, ACs, TVs, and tractors are taxed at 18pc, 5pc, or even 0pc, easing household and farming expenses." He added that the central government's core focus is to increase affordability, boost household savings, and support overall economic growth.
In a related development, sources confirmed that the NDA dinner scheduled for Monday was postponed by Prime Minister Modi. The decision was made in light of the severe flooding affecting Punjab and other parts of the country. PM Modi stated that the postponement was in view of the hardships being faced by citizens in the affected regions. He was quoted as saying, "When citizens are in distress, how can I hold a ceremonial dinner?"
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