Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 4 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel praised the Centre's move to reduce GST rates on various goods and services, calling it a 'historic step'.

The chief minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the reform.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Bhupendra Patel wrote, 'A historic step in Bharat's economic journey. Heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodiji and FM Smt. @nsitharamanji for drastically reducing GST rates on a wide range of goods and services. This reform fulfils the promise made by Hon'ble PM in his Independence Day address, to bring #NextGenGST that eases the lives of citizens and strengthens the economy.'

https://x.com/Bhupendrapbjp/status/1963299228823785495

Patel said the recent GST rate cuts on daily essentials, farm equipment, insurance, and household appliances will bring relief to middle-class families, farmers, and small businesses, calling the reform a big boost to the country's growth.

'GST on individual health insurance and life insurance, books, maps, stationery and breads have been exempted. Appliances like ACs, TVs and dishwashers now reduced from 28% to 18%. Tractors, tyres and irrigation equipment brought down to just 5%. GST on soaps, shampoos, hair oils, utensils, sewing machines and other daily essentials has been reduced from 18%/12% to 5%,' the post reads.

'This landmark reform will benefit crores of middle-class families, farmers, small traders and entrepreneurs, while giving fresh momentum to Bharat's growth journey,' the post further reads.

A day earlier, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a sweeping reduction in GST rates on a wide range of essential items, automobiles, agriculture inputs, and electronic appliances.

The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.

On the essential items front, items of daily household use will now cost less. Products such as hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet soap bars, toothbrushes, and shaving cream, which earlier attracted 18 per cent GST, will now fall under the 5 per cent bracket.

Sitharaman announced a complete removal of GST on individual health and life insurance.

Farmers and the agriculture sector stand to gain significantly from these reforms as tractor tyres and parts, earlier under 18 per cent GST, will now be taxed at just 5 per cent, while tractors themselves will also see their rate reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. (ANI)