New GST rates on education stationery: The government's new GST rates have benefitted various sectors including education. The new GST rates have made
various education stationery items tax-free which were earlier taxed under 12 per cent tax slab. List of education stationery items which have made tax free are-
- Maps
- Hydrographic charts
- Pencils
- Sharpeners
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Pastels
- Drawing charcoal
- Exercise books
- Graphs
- Notebooks
- Lab books
Education made affordable for all#NextGenGST pic.twitter.com/1Cq9Fq0n11
— CBIC (@cbic_india) September 3, 2025
When will revised GST rates come in effect?
As per recommendations of the GST Council in its 56th meeting, the changes in GST rates on services and goods other than cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi will be effective from September 22, 2025. For the specified goods namely, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi, the existing rates of GST and compensation cess will continue to apply and the new rates will be implemented at a later date to be notified, based on discharging of entire loan and interest liabilities on account of compensation cess.
Times Network Mega FM INTERVIEW: Here's what FM Nirmala Sitharaman has to say on GST reforms
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in an exclusive interview with Navika Kumar , Group Editor-in-Chief, Times Now & Times Now Navbharat, on 'Frankly Speaking', reflected on the recent GST reforms , which have been widely praised for providing a "sigh of relief to the middle classes."The Finance Minister expressed her gratitude and a sense of "equanimity" about the overwhelmingly positive public reception, including being called the "darling of the troll armies" and "Pookie Tai" on social media.
Sitharaman revealed that the comprehensive reforms took an "intense 8 months" of work, a process that involved close collaboration with the bureaucracy, which she praised for their dedication and lack of "bitter moment or a grudge” while delivering on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise.
Asked about the estimated Rs 48,000 crore annual revenue loss from the GST cuts, she explained that this is a static estimate. She expects the loss to be offset by an increase in consumer spending due to lower prices, leading to a surge in market volumes. She assured that the central government is actively monitoring the situation to ensure that the GST reduction is "surely passed on to the people."
