Govt vows to guard consumer gains of GST rate reduction

As a rejigged indirect tax regime prepares to roll in on 22 September, the Centre is taking steps to ensure the benefits of a radical tax reduction exercise actually benefit the consumer.

- Dhirendra Kumar

On Wednesday, goods and services tax (GST) rates were brought under two slabs—5% and 18%—from four earlier. Several goods were moved from the earlier 12% and 28% slabs to lower slabs, some were even moved down from 18% to 5%, and a host of essential items were exempted from GST altogether.

To ensure these changes are effected by companies selling these goods and services, the Union consumer affairs ministry will scan complaints on social media, review representations made by consumer groups, and closely monitor complaints received in the national consumer helpline—the government's central grievance redressal system—according to two people aware of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.