Overview

• A new, lower GST structure came into force nationwide on Monday.
• Mamata Banerjee welcomed the consumer relief but accused the Union government of taking undue credit while leaving states to absorb the revenue hit.
• The West Bengal chief minister said her government will publish advertisements detailing the state's estimated losses from the rate cut.
• She also alleged that the Centre has withheld funds for schemes including 100 Days’ Work, Awas Yojana, rural roads, Jal Swapno, and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
• TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee claimed the reduction was politically driven after the BJP’s Lok Sabha tally fell, asserting the GST rate dropped from 27% to 18% following the setback.