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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
TopicGST Council

Topic: GST Council

India’s GST system is now a mess. Those who designed it also are confused

The root cause of GST’s complexity lies in the multiplicity of rates. Time and again, experts recommended a simple dual-rate system. They were all ignored.

India’s popcorn tax tickles global media’s tastebuds & how Jahangir appears in a nativity scene

An op-ed in South China Morning Post also lists 4 major issues, besides border, that obstruct India-China’s relationship & reflects on how the 2 nations can 'improve mutual understanding'.

GST Council kicks the can on insurance premiums, decides on tax rate for re-sale of EVs

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided clarity on some key decisions taken by the Council, such as taxes on food and non-food items & taxes on resale of electric vehicles.

Chemistry of curd to physics of paratha, GST rates on food are a multi-disciplinary tangle

Issue of GST on food items is in news again after hotel owner’s viral interaction with Finance Minister Sitharaman last week. But complexities highlighted go back further in time.

Research funds exempt from GST, finance ministry not to pursue notices issued to IIT-D, Anna University

GST council in its 54th meeting exempted universities, research centres governed by central or state govt, or those exempted from Income Tax, from paying GST on research grants.

GST regime needs transformation. Rate rationalisation, simplification must be council’s key priority

Layers of complexity due to multiple tax rates result in similar products being taxed differently. There should be a phased move towards a low single rate to reduce incentive for evasion.

28% GST on gambling: Only on buy-in, not winnings, says Sitharaman amid concerns of double taxation

GST Council took its second-ever decision not based on consensus, on this matter, with Delhi, Goa, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu dissenting.

Govt to levy 28% GST on online gaming, casinos, horse racing. ‘No one wants to kill an industry, but…’

Finance Minister Sitharaman announces decision taken at GST Council meet, adds cancer drugs, medicines for rare diseases and food products for special medical purposes exempt from GST.

Modi govt clears GST dues worth Rs 16,982 crore, says paperwork delayed on part of 15 states

Union finance minister Sitharaman says govt cleared 90% GST compensation owed to states & only ‘5-8%’ is held back subject to authentication certificates issued by auditor general.

GST Council agrees to decriminalise certain offences, doubles limit for launching prosecution

Council members agreed to raise the threshold of launching prosecution to Rs 2 crore from the present Rs 1 crore & GST on husk of pulses was reduced to 0 from 5 per cent.

On Camera

India’s TRP ecosystem needs a reset. Time to end BARC monopoly

A ratings monopoly in India has led to lack of technological variation, resulting in sluggish systems detached from market dynamics.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.