Overview

• The reworked GST took effect on September 22 with two principal slabs of 5% and 18%, while a 40% band covers luxury and sin goods.
• Early on‑ground checks show lower retail bills on many daily‑use items and durables, with an NDTV household analysis indicating roughly 10% savings on affected goods.
• Sectoral rate cuts are feeding through to autos, electronics, FMCG, textiles and construction inputs, alongside exemptions for 33 lifesaving drugs and individual health and life insurance.
• Punjab announced monitoring teams and a “bring a bill, get a reward” compliance push as it flagged an estimated ₹6,000 crore near‑term GST revenue shortfall; CBIC has asked field offices to verify pass‑through at the dealer level.
• At a trade show in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited lower taxes on common items—saying a ₹1,000 shirt would now attract ₹35 in tax—and signalled further simplification ahead, while trader bodies and several state leaders welcomed the reforms.