PM Modi LIVE Address Today: Prime Minister To Speak At 5 PM On Eve Of GST Reforms

PM Modi is due to address the country shortly. Besides the GST reform implementation, the hot-button issue for the country is souring relations with the US.

On Friday, the Trump administration rattled everyone with its new H-1B visa policy that now seeks $100,000 fee on new applicants. US companies were scrambling to figure out the implications for their foreign workers, with several reportedly warning their employees not to leave the country.

H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills — such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers — to work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six.

PM Narendra Modi's address comes on the eve of the rollout of GST 2.0 reforms. The cuts in GST rates, which will lower prices of a wide variety of goods, will kick in on the first day of Navratri. This is likely to boost consumption during the festive season.

Among the items that will become cheaper due to the GST reforms are kitchen staples such as ghee, ketchup, coffee and paneer, electronic appliances and medicines.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of this move is people planning to buy cars this Dhanteras. Tax rates for cars have been slashed and several carmakers have already announced the reduction in prices.

Since taking over the country's top executive post in 2014, the Prime Minister has addressed the nation to announce key government decisions. On Nov. 8, 2016, he addressed the nation and announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. Another such address was aired on March 12, 2019, when the Prime Minister announced the Balakot airstrikes, launched in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. The Prime Minister had addressed the nation on March 24, 2020, to announce a three-week nationwide lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech scheduled at 5 p.m. today comes on the eve of GST reforms implementation.

All eyes will be on the Sept 22., when revised GST rates go live, thus reducing the price of most consumer daily goods as well as other items. The four-slab structure have been reduce to two, with most consumer items placed in the 5% bracket.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 5 pm today, his office said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday. The details on what the prime minister would be addressing were not known immediately.