Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said that the flow of Covid-19 vaccination across the country will be well managed and all states will be taken care of.
Punjab FM termed exclusion of Congress-ruled states from GoM that decided GST rate cuts on Covid goods as 'preposterous'. Sitharaman said groups not constituted on political affiliations.
While GST on Tocilizumab and Amphotericin B is slashed to nil from 5 per cent, the rate on Remdesivir and Heparin is lowered from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.
War of words broke out after Goa minister Mauvin Godinho accused Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan of trying to belittle the western beach state.
Exemption given from IGST extended to even paid imports of Covid relief material, is likely to benefit NGOs recognised by states. But many others will be left out.
Ahead of the council's first meeting, finance ministers of 8 non-BJP-ruled states have devised a joint strategy to press for a zero tax rate on Covid essentials, sources said.
Punjab Finance Minister Badal said even though the GST Council is meeting after 8 months, the agenda for it is 'mundane' and does not deal with substantive issues.
At the 42nd GST Council meeting in October 2020, it was decided that the compensation cess would be levied beyond the transition period of five years to meet the revenue gap.
Frequent changes in tax laws leading to uncertainties for businesses and lowering of rates without a corresponding rise in tax buoyancy among factors for lack of buoyant GST collection.
Forget comparing it with classics like Hrithik’s Ek Pal Ka Jeena or the slick title track of Dhoom 2, Janaab-e-Aali does not even come close to Ghungroo.
India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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