Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has targeted the government over the increase in GST rates. The decision to increase GST on certain items was taken recently in the 47th GST Council meeting held in Chandigarh. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader said, “GST rate hike is extremely irresponsible in times of growing economic hardships for most Indians. The common man will bear the brunt of the burden even if inflation eats into his earnings. Does this government believe it? Could it be anything away?”
Pre-packaged and labeled pulses, and cereals like rice, wheat, and atta (flour) will now attract GST From today at the rate of 5 per cent if branded and packaged in a unit container.
Other things like curd, lassi and murmure will also attract GST at the rate of 5 percent When pre-packaged and labeled.
Other items that will be costly are printing, writing or drawing ink, knives with cutting blades, paper knives, pencil sharpeners and blades, spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers and cake-servers. These items will now attract interest at the rate of 18 percent instead of 12 percent.
LED lamps and solar water heaters will also attract 18 per cent tax.
Also, Tetra Pak (or aseptic packaging paper) used for packaging liquid beverages or dairy products will now attract 18 per cent GST instead of 12 per cent. Cut and polished diamonds will attract 1.5 per cent tax as against 0.25 per cent earlier.
Plus, the hotel stay rates . until 1000 per day will now be taxed at the rate of 12 per cent,
On the other hand, the tax on transport of goods and passengers by ropeway will be reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent.
Truck/freight fare where fuel cost is included will be cheaper as the tax has been reduced to 12 per cent instead of 18 per cent.
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