| Staff REPORTER |
Itanagar, Sep 22: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday called the rollout of GST reforms a “historic step” and said it will bring direct benefits to the people across the nation.
Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters here, he highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh was chosen to launch the reforms.
Rijiju described the changes as the “biggest tax reform in the world,” noting that GST rates on almost 90 percent of commodities have been reduced. “A 12 percent GST reduction applies to around 99 percent of items, while a 28 percent GST cut applies to about 90 percent of goods,” he said.
He added that the reforms would particularly benefit daily essentials, groceries, and food items, potentially saving households up to 13 percent on bills. Small car buyers could save around Rs 70,000, and health and life insurance policies have been exempted from GST.
Rijiju urged shopkeepers to inform their customers about the GST rate cuts, emphasizing that the reform will make everyday items more affordable, positively impacting the poor, middle, and new middle class.