- GST Council approved reducing slabs to 5% and 18%, effective from Sept 22
- Business leaders widely praised GST reform for boosting economy and easing costs
- Reforms expected to simplify compliance and support sectors like auto and healthcare
The GST Council on Wednesday approved limiting slabs to 5% and 18%, effective from Sept. 22, the first day of Navaratri. Briefing reporters after a marathon day-long GST Council meeting, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said all decisions were taken unanimously, with no disagreement with any state.
The panel cleared the proposal to simplify the GST structure by reducing it from the current four slabs — 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% — to just two.
The move has been widely welcomed across industries. Here's a look at top business leaders who have praised the latest reform.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman, has hailed the move. "We have now joined the battle. More and faster reforms are the surest way to unleash consumption and investment," he said.
"Those, in turn, will expand the economy and amplify India's voice in the world. But let's remember the famous exhortation of Swami Vivekananda: “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” So, more reforms, please," he wrote on X.
We have now joined the battle…
September 3, 2025
More and faster reforms are the surest way to unleash consumption and investment.
Those, in turn, will expand the economy and amplify India's voice in the world.
But let's remember the famous exhortation of Swami Vivekananda:
“Arise, awake, and… https://t.co/rDoRtjsCw1Meanwhile, Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG Enterprises Ltd., hailed the new GST reform as a 'Big Diwali gift for every Indian!'
"GST on daily essentials, healthcare, education & farming inputs slashed. Cheaper groceries relief in healthcare, affordable education and support for farmers. Next-gen GST = ease of living + boost to economy," he wrote on X.
Big Diwali gift 🎁 for every Indian!
GST on daily essentials, healthcare, education & farming inputs slashed.
🛒 Cheaper groceries
💊 Relief in healthcare
📚 Affordable education
🚜 Support for farmers
Next-gen GST = ease of living + boost to economy.September 3, 2025AdvertisementTruly a Diwali gift for all! commented Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd.
Truly a Diwali gift for all! 🙏 https://t.co/81zlubxIP6
September 3, 2025Anish Shah, Group CEO and MD, Mahindra Group shared, that the Next Gen GST reforms mark a defining moment, simplifying compliance, easing costs on essentials, correcting inverted duties & energising key sectors like auto, agri, healthcare, renewables & MSMEs.
"A bold step aligned with the Hon'ble PM's vision of a citizen-centric, future-ready Bharat," he wrote on X.
#NextGenGST reforms mark a defining moment, simplifying compliance, easing costs on essentials, correcting inverted duties & energising key sectors like auto, agri, healthcare, renewables & MSMEs. A bold step aligned with the Hon'ble PM's vision of a citizen-centric, future-ready… https://t.co/V1PfroVu2v
September 3, 2025 Subhrakant Panda, Managing Director, Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd., wrote that GST 2.0 is a big bang move which will spur demand besides simplifying many of the related processes.
GST 2.0 is a big bang move which will spur demand besides simplifying many of the related processes. It reflects the maturation of the indirect tax regime which has seen a steady rise in collections, and strengthens the foundation for a self-reliant India in line with Hon'ble PM… https://t.co/Qg2FBxS6ZL
September 3, 2025Advertisement"It reflects the maturation of the indirect tax regime which has seen a steady rise in collections, and strengthens the foundation for a self-reliant India in line with Hon'ble PM Modi ji's vision. Kudos to Hon'ble FM and the members of the GST Council for this bold step," he shared on X.
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