“GST 2.0: Big Tax Cuts to 5% & 18% on Essentials”

The original GST framework, rolled out in 2017, was designed to create a unified national market by subsuming a complex web of central and state indirect taxes. While it has been largely successful, the multi-tier structure has often been criticized for its complexity, leading to classification disputes and compliance burdens for businesses. Moreover, the high tax rates on a wide range of goods, from consumer durables to essential household items, have been a source of consumer discontent.