GST rate cuts resulted in increased purchases:Govt monitoring whether companies reduced prices of select 54 items or not, says Sitharaman

The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, 18 October 2025, said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts have resulted in increased purchases by citizens across the country. The finance minister added that the government is monitoring whether companies have reduced prices of select 54 items or not. Recalling the implementation of the GST 2.0 reforms on 22 September, Sitharaman further said that the next generation reforms were launched on the first day of Navratri and she felt that the people of India have got the benefits. The finance minister added that in some cases, businesses have passed on higher-than-expected GST rate cuts to the consumers. Union Ministers throw light on record sales registered post implementation of new GST rates: The Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that in 2025, India surpassed its neighbour (China) and exported larger amount of smartphones to the United States (US). The Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that due to the new GST rates, India’s largest automobile manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki had sold 1,65,000 vehicles in just first eight days of Navratri. BJP MP Swaraj: New GST rates doubled Diwali illumination The Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), Member of Parliament, (MP), Bansuri Swaraj, said that new-age GST reforms have doubled Diwali illumination.