Bhubaneswar, Sep 18: BJP National General Secretary and Co-Convenor of the National GST Campaign Committee, Tarun Chugh on Thursday said that GST 2.0 reform aims to simplify taxation, enhance transparency, and ensure equitable growth. By streamlining compliance and reducing burdens, it empowers small businesses, consumers, and marginalized communities, fostering inclusive development and strengthening India’s economic resilience across all societal segments, he added.

BJP leader Chugh said this while speaking at a seminar on “GST Reforms for the Next Generation”, organized by the BJP Intellectual Cell at the party’s state headquarters here in Odisha.

Chugh highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past eleven years, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most resilient economies globally. The GST 2.0 initiative is expected to inject Rs2 lakh crore into the hands of citizens, boosting domestic demand and accelerating economic growth.

The reform proposes a significant reduction in GST rates: nearly 99% of items in the 12% slab will now be taxed at 5%, and 90% of goods in the 28% slab will drop to 18%. This move is expected to lower prices, increase savings, and stimulate consumption. Several companies have already announced price cuts, allowing consumers to benefit immediately.

Special attention has been given to farmers, small businesses, and the healthcare sector. Agricultural tools, irrigation equipment, and small tractors will now attract only 5% GST, reducing farming costs. Life and health insurance will be GST-exempt, and critical medicines and medical devices, including those for cancer, will also be tax-free.

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Odisha stands to gain significantly from these reforms. The reduction of GST on kendu leaves from 18% to 5% will benefit thousands of tribal collectors. Chugh praised the “double-engine government” in Odisha—referring to the synergy between the central and state governments—for driving development in infrastructure, employment, health, and education.

Several BJP leaders including Sudarshan Nayak, Biranchi Narayan Tripathy, Sanjay Rath, Dr. Ravi Narayan Behera, Tapan Chand, and Mihir Sahu, among others, attended the event and elaborated on the reform’s impact. The event concluded with a strong endorsement of GST 2.0 as a cornerstone of India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.