GST 2.0: Shopping has intensified in the festive season after the GST rate cuts. In emerging markets and metros, demand has seen an increase of 23 to 25 percent. Under the GST reform implemented from 22 September 2025, tax slabs on big screen TVs, furniture and medium range fashion products have been reduced. This led to a decrease in prices and consumers directly benefited.

major impact:

GST on big TV was reduced from 28% to 18%, declining prices by 6-8% and increased demand for premium model.
Fashion, priced below Rs 2,500, is now only 5% GST, which led to a boom in sales.
The demand for furniture also increased significantly.

According to Redseer’s report, the first two days sales have increased by 23-25% on an annual basis. The demand for GST 2.0 improvement and festive season together brought out the sales of premium smartphones and TV to a record level.

Effect on e-commerce:

The demand was so high that some apps were slow and crashed while giving orders. Amazon set a record of more than 38 crore customers in the first two days, out of which more than 70% of the customers were out of the top 9 metros. Flipkart also recorded 21% more users in the first 48 hours than last year.

Amazon India Vice President Saurabh Srivastava said that “GST Savings Utsav” received a great response and in just 48 hours, GST benefits worth crores of rupees were delivered to customers. Significantly, efforts to increase domestic demand and GST reform have been announced at a time when India’s economic speed remains above six percent.

On the other hand, the pressure on India is also increasing globally. The US has not only imposed a base tariff 25 percent but has also applied an additional 25 percent penalty tariff due to purchasing oil from Russia. This step has been taken by the Trump administration in an attempt to stop Ukraine War. In this way, on the one hand the government is promoting domestic consumption and festive purchases through GST reforms, on the other hand, India is facing American tariff on the international front.

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GST Cut Rate: The central government has given a big gift to the general public of the country. The central government has issued a notification of new rates of GST. The new rates are becoming effective from 22 September. According to the notification, now things will be found according to new rates. Let us know that in the GST Council meeting held on 3 September 2025, it was decided that now four percent of GST rates i.e. 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent, 28 percent will not be there in the country, but only two rates will be applicable only 5 percent and 18 percent.

This decision of the government will make many things cheaper, such as oil, soap, shampoo, milk, butter, ghee, TV, fridge, washing machine, AC, bike and car. These things have been kept in a category of 5 percent or 18 percent. This change will be applicable from 22 September 2025. However, in the minds of many people, there is a question that even after the GST cut, what to do if the shopkeeper gives the goods at the old rate? In such a situation, you have the legal right to complain. So let us know that even after September 22, if the shopkeeper does not reduce the price, where to complain.

Where to complain if the shopkeeper does not reduce the price

1. National Consumer Helpline (NC) – The government has provided National Consumer Helpline (Nch) facility, where you can easily file a complaint. Here you can tell your problem directly by calling toll free number 1800-11-4000 or 1915. Apart from this, you can also complain on number 8800001915 from WhatsApp.

2. Complain through the website – Official website of national consumer helpline https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/public/ You can also complain. To file a complaint in this, first go to the website and sign up, then log in and choose Register Grievance option. Give complete information about your complaint, upload supporting documents and submit the complaint, after that you will get a docket number. You can also track your complaint with this number.

3. Complain through mobile app – Download from Nch Mobile App, Google Play Store or App Store. Register, log in and file a complaint. Apart from this, you can also complain through the UMANG app. Go to the UMANG app and choose the option of consumer complaints and file a complaint.

How to complain in Consumer Forum?
When you file a complaint, Nch sends your complaint to the concerned company or shopkeeper. After this, the company has to answer your complaint. If you do not get the answer, then you can go further to the Consumer Forum. Now you do not need to complain in the shopkeeper or company city. You can file a complaint in any consumer forum in your city or state.

Forum information to you https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/public/ FORUMS of the website is found in the section. After which you can file your complaint.

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GST 2.0: After the announcement of GST 2.0, the government has increased the tax on harmful goods like cigarette, paan masala and tobacco products to 40 percent on the one hand, while there is no effect on alcohol. This decision clearly shows that despite the long -standing negotiations between the Central and the State Governments, the right to tax the liquor will remain with the states.

Rates will increase on harmful things

The government has increased the tax on the products such as cigarettes, gutkha and other tobacco products from 28 percent to 40 percent. That is, an additional burden of 12 percent has been put on these items directly. Its purpose is to reduce the consumption of these harmful things among the people on the one hand, on the other hand the government is also considering it as a big source of revenue.

The FAQ issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) states that this special rate will apply only to some goods like harmful and luxury items. In fact, till now these items were also applied with 28 percent GST, but after merging the cess into GST, they have been kept under a special rate.

Big means of earning alcohol for states

At the same time, alcohol is completely excluded from the purview of GST 2.0. Earnings from alcohol for states are a large part of their total tax revenue, which reaches 15 to 25 percent in many states. This is the reason that if liquor was included in GST, then the income of the state governments would have a direct impact. Tax experts believe that the revenue from alcohol is very important for the development work and other expenses of the states.

Therefore, despite the implementation of GST 2.0, liquor rates will remain under the control of the states and the state governments will continue to fix tax on it. This simply means that while tobacco and related products will be expensive, alcohol will not be affected at the moment.

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Before Diwali, the government has announced a change in GST rates, giving great relief. The new rates will be implemented from September 22 and people will have to pay low prices from soap-shampoo to milk curd and AC-TV to cars. Next week Apple is going to launch its iPhone 17 series. In such a situation, some people may feel that they will not have to put much emphasis on their pockets to buy a new iPhone. Let us know if this is really going to happen.

IPhone prices will not be affected

The official prices of Apple iPhone 17 Series have not been announced yet. According to some reports, the initial price of this series in India can be Rs 84,499. Changes in GST rates will not affect these prices. The reason for this is that smartphones are in the 18 percent tax slab. Earlier, 18 percent GST used to be levied on them and still have to pay the same tax. There has been no change in the GST on the smartphone. In such a situation, customers will have to pay the same tax as earlier for the iPhone as well as all the smartphones. Because of this, mobile prices have not been cut like smart TV and AC.

Demand was made from the government

The India Cellular and Electronics Association (Icea) had demanded the government to bring the smartphone into a 5 percent slab. He said that the phones have now become a need and Digital India has an important tool. Before the arrival of GST, most of the states used to keep mobile phones in the category of essential goods. At present, the government has not accepted this demand. Let us know that at the beginning of GST, there was a 12 percent tax on the smartphone, which was increased to 18 percent in 2020.

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Big relief before Diwali, Smart TV and AC will be cheap, government changes GST rates

The government has made huge changes in the rates of GST. Due to this, the price ranging from household use to electronics items is going to be a huge decrease. The new rates will be applicable from September 22 and people will be able to take advantage of the low prices while shopping for Diwali. This decision has reduced the prices of smart TV, AC and dishwasher etc. There is also a question in the minds of many people that now the smartphones of other companies including Apple and Samsung will be cheap? Let’s know the answer to this question.

Will smartphone prices decrease?

People looking for smartphones being cheap will be some timely disappointment. The latest decision of the government has not affected the prices of mobile phones. Earlier, 18 percent GST used to be on the smartphone and it will still continue. Due to this, the prices of smartphones will not be reduced at the moment. However, it was already being speculated that customers are not going to get any relief on smartphone prices.

Why didn’t the smartphones become cheap?

According to media reports, sources associated with the industry already expected that the price of the smartphone would not be reduced. He says that if there was any discussion about 12 percent slab, there would have been a little hope, but now the bottom slab is 5 percent from 18 percent. In such a situation, it was difficult to bring the smartphone into this slab. However, the India Cellular and Electronics Association had demanded the government to keep the smartphone in a 5 percent slab. He said that the phones have now become a need and Digital India has an important tool. Before the arrival of GST, most of the states used to keep mobile phones in the category of essential goods. Let us know that at the beginning of GST, there was a 12 percent tax on the smartphone, which was increased to 18 percent in 2020.

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Big relief before Diwali, Smart TV and AC will be cheap, government changes GST rates

GST reforms: If you are fond of branded clothes, then soon the bill is going to be reduced on your shopping. Along with this, food items can also be cheap. Taking a decision on this in the GST Council to be held under the chairmanship of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman next month, these things can be brought to 5 percent slab by reducing the rates of GST.

The Times of India has quoted its sources as saying that under the government’s steps to make the tax structure easier, the proposal to reduce the rates of GST on clothes and food items is on the government’s agenda.

Prices of many things will decrease

The GST Council is going to meet next month i.e. September 3 and 4, which will include the Union Finance Minister as a member of it from all the state governments. In this, a provision has been made to keep only two slabs and 18 percent after the GST reform, while 40 percent GST rate will be imposed on harmful or luxury items.

According to TOI, this suggestion of some states has come, including West Bengal, on whose behalf it has been said that the maximum rates of GST should be increased by 40 percent. But such a step will be a wrong signal. Along with this, important amendments in the law will also be required.

How much GST on what things?

It is believed that GST rates above cement can be reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent. Apart from this, GST above salon and parlor can be reduced from 18 percent to 5 percent. A provision is being made to bring 18 percent of GST from AC, TV to refrigerator.

Whereas the GST rates on health insurance can be reduced from 18 percent to zero. After the GST reform, the state governments are also worrying about their revenue. In such a situation, now during the GST Council, the way will also be found that how will the states compensate for those losses from the center.

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GST reforms: The central government is very fast on the GST reform. The 56th meeting of GST Council is going to be held in New Delhi on 3 and 4 September. A day before this, there will be a meeting of officials on 2 September. However, earlier this meeting was to be held in late September or in early October. But after the statements of the states, this meeting is going to be held ahead of time. The government is trying to implement the new GST rate by Dussehra i.e. October 2.

According to reports, officials say that if everything is according to the plan, it will be implemented around Dussehra.

Fast track mode on GST

It is worth noting that a group of ministers met in Delhi on August 20 and 21, in which 12 percent and 18 percent GST rate was supported. State ministers involved in this meeting have agreed to the step of keeping the new rate 5 percent and 18 percent by changing the GST structure.

Significantly, PM Modi announced the GST reform during his speech on the occasion of 79th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He announced the Next Generation GST reform before Diwali, saying that this move of the government will reduce the tax burden on the common people. Along with this, he said that this will be a Diwali gift for all of you. During this time, he had said the purpose of GST reform to give public interest and the economy to give a new pace.

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