Overview

• Officials confirmed the Sunday 5 pm speech, with its subject undisclosed and the timing coinciding with the eve of Navratri.
• GST 2.0 takes effect Monday, replacing four slabs with 5% and 18% rates and a 40% demerit rate approved by the GST Council.
• Government guidance says hundreds of goods will get cheaper from September 22, with most 12% items moving to 5% and most 28% items to 18%.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has projected the overhaul will add Rs 2 lakh crore to the economy.
• Reports indicate Modi may highlight self-reliance and could refer to the US H-1B fee hike to $100,000 for new visas in the next lottery cycle.