Next-generation GST reforms, as announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15th August 2025, represent a strategic, principled, and citizen-centric evolution of a landmark tax framework, which will enhance the quality of life of every last citizen.
Rationalisation of the current 4-tiered tax rate structure into a citizen-friendly ‘Simple Tax’ – a 2 rate structure with a Standard Rate of 18% and a Merit Rate of 5%; a special de-merit rate of 40% for a select few goods and services.
56th GST Council Meeting_Brief
2 thoughts on “Key GST Changes and Rate Rationalisation: 56th GST Council Meeting”
Has GST been made zero on education and stationery?
S. No. “Chapter / Heading /
Sub-heading / Tariff item” Description of Goods From To
1 4016 Erasers 5 NIL
2 4905 “Maps and hydrographic or similar charts of all kinds,
including atlases, wall maps, topographical plans and globes, printed” 12 NIL
3 8214 Pencil sharpeners 12 NIL
4 9608, 9609 “Pencils (including propelling or sliding pencils), crayons,
pastels, drawing charcoals and tailor’s chalk” 12 NIL
5 4820 “Exercise book, graph book, & laboratory note book and
notebooks” 12 NIL
6 7310 or 7326 Mathematical boxes, geometry boxes and colour boxes 12 5