New GST rates: What's cheaper, what's costlier, full list
The GST Council has approved a major overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure. Effective from September 22, the new regime simplifies the tax slabs to 5% and 18%, slashes rates on a wide range of daily-use and consumer goods, and fully exempts life and health insurance from GST.
The move is expected to drive economic growth and provide relief to middle-class households.
Below is the full list of what becomes cheaper and what becomes costlier, effective from the first day of Navaratri.
What gets cheaper
Essential food & beverages
0% GST on:
Plain chapati/roti
Paratha (down from 18%)
UHT milk, chena/paneer
5% GST (down from 12–18%) on:
Butter, ghee, cheese, condensed milk
Dry fruits, figs, dates, avocados
Jam, jellies, sugar confectionery
Cornflakes, cereals, pastries, biscuits
Namkeen, bhujia, mixtures
Tender coconut water, fruit pulp, juices
Ice creams and milk-based beverages
Drinking water (20-litre bottles)
Personal care & household items
5% GST (down from 18%) on:
Shampoo, hair oil, face powder
Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap
Talcum powder, shaving cream
5% GST (down from 12%) on:
Feeding bottles, kitchenware, tableware
Combs, umbrellas, bicycles
Bamboo furniture, utensils
Healthcare and insurance
0% GST on:
Life and health insurance premiums (was 18%)
33 life-saving/cancer drugs (was 12%)
5% GST on:
Spectacles, goggles, diagnostic kits
Medical-grade oxygen, thermometers
Education supplies
0% GST on:
Exercise books, notebooks
Pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, maps
Construction & housing
18% GST on:
Cement (down from 28%)
Vehicles & automobiles
18% GST (down from 28%) on:
Small petrol cars (1200 cc), small diesel cars (1500 cc)
Motorcycles 350 cc
Buses, trucks, ambulances, three-wheelers
Consumer durables and electronics
18% GST (down from 28%) on:
ACs, refrigerators, washing machines
Dishwashers, TVs (all sizes), monitors, projectors
Textiles, footwear, handicrafts
5% GST (down from 12%) on:
Man-made fibre, yarn
Leather products, handicrafts
Clothing & footwear priced under Rs 2,500
Agriculture inputs
5% GST (down from 12–18%) on:
Tractors, tyres, farming tools, irrigation equipment
What Gets Costlier
Tobacco and related products
40% GST proposed on:
Pan masala, gutkha, bidis, cigarettes, zarda
These items will temporarily remain at 28% + cess until COVID compensation loans are repaid (expected end of 2025)
Sugary and aerated drinks
40% GST (up from 28%)
Luxury vehicles & leisure goods
40% GST on:
Motorcycles 350 cc
High-end cars (petrol 1200 cc, diesel 1500 cc or length 4000 mm)
Yachts, personal-use aircraft, racing cars
Leisure services
40% GST on:
Casinos, lotteries, gambling
Online gaming
Horse racing and racing clubs
Key highlights
Four tax slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) simplified to two: 5% & 18%
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