Business News: Economy & Markets

Common man will get major relief: Laghu Udyog Bharati of Jodhpur welcomes GST 2.0 reforms

IANS | September 4, 2025 4:31 PM

Jodhpur, Sep 4 (IANS) Laghu Udyog Bharati on Thursday welcomed the reforms introduced under GST 2.0, calling them a major relief for the common man and a catalyst for economic growth. The changes, approved in the 56th meeting of the GST Council and announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are set to simplify the tax structure and boost business confidence across sectors.

GST 2.0: Salted popcorn to attract 5 pc, caramel-flavoured 18 pc

IANS | September 4, 2025 4:29 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The GST Council has finally settled the long-running debate over how popcorn should be taxed in India as under the new GST 2.0 regime, popcorn mixed with salt and spices will attract 5 per cent GST, whether it is sold loose or in pre-packaged and labelled form.

Mixed reaction from farm unions on GST reduction in farm inputs

Jayanta Bhattacharya | September 4, 2025 4:21 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its 56th meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on September 4, approved a cut from 18 per cent to five on major agricultural inputs like tractors, machinery, fertilisers, and irrigation equipment.

Indian indices end marginally up as profit booking, IT stocks erase early gains

IANS | September 4, 2025 4:05 PM

Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS) The domestic equity indices ended the session slightly up on Thursday amid volatility. The Sensex surged over 900 points in opening trade, driven by optimism over GST reforms. However, it lost most of the gains due to profit booking and selling in IT stocks.

Piyush Goyal urges India Inc. to pass on entire GST rate cut to consumers

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:49 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday urged India Inc. to pass on to consumers the benefit of the GST rate cut that has been announced across several categories of goods in order to boost demand and spur growth in the economy.

GST reforms may bring vehicle prices down by up to 8.5 pc: Report

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:35 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The government's decision to revamp the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure with three slabs of 5 per cent, 18 per cent and 40 per cent will turn out to be a big benefit for automobile industry and customers as the prices across the segment would go down up to 8.5 per cent, a report said on Thursday.

GST reforms may cost Centre just 0.05 pc of GDP: Bernstein

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:27 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The sweeping changes in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates announced by the government may have only a minor impact on public finances, with the fiscal burden on the Centre expected to be just Rs 18,000 crore, according to a report by global brokerage Bernstein on Thursday.

Bold step: Industry experts hail GST reforms in health sector

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:11 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts in the healthcare sector are a bold step and will go a long way in advancing the vision of a Swasth Bharat underpinning a Samriddh Bharat, said industry experts on Thursday, while hailing the move.

GST reforms can further lower inflation, allow RBI to cut repo rate by another 25 bp this year

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:05 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The GST tax rate cuts can further lower inflation if companies pass on all benefits to the consumers, allowing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to cut repo rate once again by 25 bp in the fourth quarter this year, a report said on Thursday.

Amidst global turbulence, partnership with India rooted in deep reservoir of trust: Singapore PM

IANS | September 4, 2025 3:00 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Stressing that partnership between India and Singapore is rooted in shared values, mutual respect and deep reservoir of trust, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday said that the partnership between two nations is more important in a world marked by great uncertainty and turbulence.