Government receives plea to cut 28% GST on aerated drinks
The meeting is already set to review a broader rate rationalisation framework, with officials indicating that certain slabs and cesses may be simplified or merged.Carbonated drinks fall under the so-called 'sin goods' category—alongside tobacco and pan masala—which invites the highest GST rate and a cess. Industry players have long argued that such classification is outdated, especially for low-sugar and fruit-based carbonated products.Recent court rulings have also put pressure on the current tax structure. The Gauhati High Court had ruled that certain fizzy fruit drinks, if primarily juice-based, should be taxed at 12% instead of 28%. However, this has not led to a broader reclassification.While some states may resist the change due to the revenue implications of scrapping the cess, the Centre is reportedly open to exploring alternatives as part of a wider reform to make the GST system more predictable and investment-friendly.Any revision in GST rates or cess removal would likely translate into lower prices for consumers and improved margins for beverage makers.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
19 minutes ago
- India Today
Bengal asked to give up control over state Election Commission, make it independent
A fresh political tussle between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government may be in the offing as the Chief Election Commission (CEC) has recommended making the West Bengal Election Commission an independent body ahead of next year's state Assembly told India Today that directions have been issued to make the state election commission, which currently serves under the aegis of the state Home Ministry, an independent body. A recommendation letter has been issued to the West Bengal chief secretary in this is believed that the poll panel has taken the initiative to ensure that the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state does not depend on the state government before the 2026 elections. It has also directed the Chief Secretary to declare the CEO's office as an independent office soon. Currently, the CEO's office is under the state's Home Department. If it becomes independent, the CEO's office will no longer be dependent on the state financially and in terms of appointment of election development assumes even greater significance against the backdrop of the ongoing political showdown between the Centre and INDIA bloc parties and states ruled by them over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, months ahead of state comes a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that SIR would not be allowed to be implemented in Bengal. She even said that if needed, the Election Commission would be Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief made the announcement at the Martyr's Day rally on Monday. The Trinamool is running a campaign against the Election Commission's SIR exercise and is constantly opposing VS OPPOSITION OVER BIHAR SIRThe Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar remains a flashpoint between the Election Commission of India and the the poll body assured the Supreme Court that the citizenship of a person would not be cancelled if he or she is found ineligible for registration in the roll revision, Opposition leaders raised strong objections, alleging that the revision could be misused to omit the names of minority, Dalit and Opposition-leaning voters ahead of the key assembly Trinamool Congress, along with the RJD, claimed the drive could lead to mass deletions of voters from marginalised communities, especially in rural and minority-dominated response, the central government said that the SIR is a routine process and follows the guidelines set by the Election Commission.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#West Bengal
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Centre owes state 464cr under rural employment scheme
Chennai: Union govt owes TN 464crore in dues under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Centre told Parliament. This comes as fund allocation and job generation saw a sharp decline over the years. Response to more than seven starred questions from MPs across states, including TN MPs Thamizhachi Thangapandian, TM Selvaganapathi, and Thangathamilselvan, came from ministers in Union rural development ministry. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said dues comprising wage and material costs were pending due to procedural requirements, fund utilisation pace, and existing liabilities. Centre, having issued new standard operating procedures, is pushing for Aadhaar-linked DBT payments, and is conducting regular reviews to clear backlogs, he added. The statement also revealed that TN's allocation under MGNREGS dropped from 9,743crore in 2022-23 to 7,585crore in 2024-25. The number of person-days generated fell from 3,346 lakh to 3,061 lakh, indicating fewer work opportunities for rural households. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Under the scheme, 100% of wage and administration expenditure is borne by Union govt, whereas it bears 75% of material expenditure and 25% is shared by the state. Union govt said about 2,884crore of wage dues to TN was released in April this year, and another 50% of material component dues of 858crore in March. Allocations under the Centre's housing scheme will be based on previous usage, pending houses, and current targets. To a query on rural roads, the ministry said 7,375 km of roads were relaid in TN and more have been sanctioned.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Bakeries, condiments and small enterprises protest against GST notices on July 24
The Karnataka State Association of Bakeries, Condiments and Small Enterprises has organised a protest rally at Freedom Park on Thursday, to protest the 'unscientific' Goods and Services Tax (GST) notices issued by the Commercial Taxes Department to small-scale traders. D.B. Pratap Shetty, president of the association, expressed concern over the GST notices to small-scale businesses like condiments stores, bakeries, milk sellers, vegetable vendors, and others, and said these notices had created a sense of fear among traders. These notices have been issued based on transactions in their UPI payment gateway linked accounts. 'Most of our transactions — over 95% — are through digital payments,' Mr. Shetty said, and warned that if their issues are not sorted out, they will launch a State-wide protest against the UPI payment system. 'We will begin a campaign to break UPI scanners as a mark of protest,' he warned. He alleged that traders with annual transactions between ₹20 lakh and ₹40 lakh are being served notices, which goes against the standard GST norms. While demanding the withdrawal of such notices, the association has demanded that the government allow traders with turnover exceeding ₹40 lakh per year to settle their dues under the presumptive tax scheme by paying a flat 1% tax based on available records.
