A Lighter Basket, A Stronger Home: How GST 2.0 Touches the Life of Every Indian Woman

The reduction of GST on medical technology items from 12% to 5% has the power to transform access to diagnostics and devices, ensuring preventive care becomes affordable and accessible.

- REKHA SHARMA

It is often said that India's economy beats inside every kitchen, every bazaar, and every small saving a homemaker makes. From September 22, GST 2.0 brings that heartbeat closer to relief and cheer. With slabs reduced to just two, and daily essentials like food, shampoo, detergents, and personal care items becoming cheaper, this reform is not merely a tax cut. It is a lived experience for millions of women who stretch every rupee to run their households.

Picture Sunita, a mother of two in a small town in Haryana. Every month, she carefully plans her grocery list: cooking oil, atta, milk, soap, biscuits for her children, a packet of shampoo for herself. Until now, she often found herself compromising, choosing between a brand she trusted and one that was affordable. But with GST 2.0, many of these items will cost less. Her monthly basket will suddenly feel lighter on her wallet, leaving her with a small but meaningful surplus. Perhaps now, she can set aside a little more for her daughter's tuition, or buy that extra packet of dry fruits she always wanted for the family's health. This is where reform touches lives—it transforms consumption into confidence.