New Delhi, Sept 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the GST Bachat Utsav 2025, a landmark initiative under the government’s next-generation GST reforms, promising significant tax relief and direct savings for millions of households across the country.
Terming it a “festival of savings for every Indian,” the Prime Minister said the reforms would not only reduce the burden on common citizens but also strengthen India’s journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
Major Highlights of GST Bachat Utsav
The new reforms, effective from September 22, bring sweeping changes to the indirect tax structure:
- Simplified GST slabs: Multiple categories have been rationalised into two main rates – 5% and 18%.
- Cheaper essentials: Many goods previously taxed at 12% have now been shifted to the 5% slab, while essentials such as food and medicines remain in the lowest bracket.
- Massive savings: Combined with earlier income tax relief measures, the government estimates total citizen savings of around ₹2.5 lakh crore annually.
Benefits Across Society
The reforms are expected to ease the daily expenses of poor and middle-class families, bring respite to farmers and rural households, and enhance affordability of consumer goods for women and youth. Traders, MSMEs, and small businesses will also gain from simplified compliance and increased consumer demand.
“The GST Bachat Utsav will directly benefit every section of society — from farmers to workers, from traders to homemakers,” PM Modi said in his address.
Boost to Make in India
The Prime Minister urged citizens to take pride in purchasing Swadeshi goods, noting that lower GST rates will make Indian-made products more competitive against imports. The move is expected to drive demand for domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and encourage innovation under the Make in India initiative.
A Timely Reform
Launched on the eve of the festive season, the GST Bachat Utsav is designed to stimulate consumption and boost economic activity across states. Economists say the reforms mark the most significant revamp of GST since its rollout in 2017, aligning tax policy with both affordability and growth.
As awareness campaigns roll out nationwide, the coming weeks will reveal how quickly consumers and businesses feel the impact of this festive “bonanza of savings.”