New GST Rates List Live Updates: GST 2.0, a major overhaul in the indirect tax system of the country, has come into effect today, September 22, decreasing tax on essential items to boost consumption nationwide and rationalising rates on other products. Termed as GST Bachat Utsav (savings festival), coinciding with the first day of Navratri, products from groceries to electronics have become cheaper from today on account of lower GST. 

The 56th GST council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has merged the previous four slabs into two main categories with an additional “sin tax” bracket:

• 5% slab — for essential goods.
• 18% slab – for most other goods and services.
• 40% slab – for luxury and sin goods such as tobacco, alcohol, betting, and online gaming.

This consolidation is expected to make tax compliance easier and also reduce prices on many items currently taxed at 12% or 28%.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on Sunday ahead of the implementation of GST 2.0, said that people will save Rs 2.5 lakh crore, with the combined benefit of the goods and services tax (GST) cuts and the earlier Income Tax reduction.

PM Modi congratulated people on the GST Bachat Utsav (savings festival) kicking off on September 22 — the first day of Navratri. “GST Bachat Utsav would lead to savings and people will be able to purchase things easily,” he said.

PM Modi said that since 2014, GST has been a top priority, as reforms are continuous and need to adapt to the nation’s evolving needs. Before the rollout of GST 2.0, goods transported across states in India faced multiple hurdles, including a maze of documentation, numerous check posts, and differing tax systems at every location, said the PM in his address. He emphasised that these complexities often slowed business and increased costs.

Gatwick Airport’s £2.2 billion second runway plan has been given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

In the privately-financed project, the West Sussex airport will move its emergency runway 12 metres north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

This will enable it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year.

Ms Alexander backed the scheme as a “no-brainer” for economic growth, a Government source said, suggesting flights could take off from the new full runway before 2029.

The Cabinet minister is satisfied with adjustments made, covering issues such as noise mitigation and the proportion of passengers who would travel to and from the airport by public transport.

It comes after the Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the airport’s application and earlier this year recommended Ms Alexander should approve the project if the changes were made.

New commitments include Gatwick’s management setting its own targets for the proportion of passengers who travel to the airport by public transport, rather than a legally binding target.

Residents affected by more noise will be able to ask Gatwick to cover the costs for triple-glazed windows.

Homeowners living directly beneath the new flight routes who choose to sell could have their stamp duty and reasonable moving costs paid, as well as estate agent fees of up to 1% of the purchase price.

Gatwick says its plans will create £1 billion per year in economic benefits, and generate an additional 14,000 jobs.

A Government source told the PA news agency: “The Transport Secretary has cleared Gatwick expansion for take-off.

“With capacity constraints holding back business, trade and tourism, this is a no-brainer for growth.

“This Government has taken unprecedented steps to get this done, navigating a needlessly complex planning system, which our reforms will simplify in future.

“It is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election.

“Any airport expansion must be delivered in line with our legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements.”

Local campaigners opposed to expansion are concerned about the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment, but the airport insists it has conducted “full and thorough assessments” of those issues.

CAGNE, an umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said it stands ready to serve a judicial review funded by residents and environmental bodies.

The group said: “We know this Government cares little for the environmental impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwick’s neighbours, but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the onsite wastewater treatment plant, and noise impact is unlawful in our book.”

The Labour Government’s backing of a third runway at Heathrow Airport in its bid to grow the economy has also drawn criticism from environmental groups and opposition politicians.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski described ministers’ support of a second Gatwick runway as a “disaster”.

He said in a statement: “It ignores basic climate science and risks undermining efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

“Labour keeps wheeling out the same nonsense about growth, but at what cost? What this really means is more pollution, more noise for local communities, and no real economic benefit.”

Stewart Wingate, Vinci Airports managing director for the UK and former Gatwick chief executive, said: “After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the Government’s approval of plans to bring our Northern Runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline.

“This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2bn investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK and create thousands of jobs.

“As we’ve said previously, it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realise the full benefits of the project and do not impose unnecessary constraints that make it uneconomic to invest in.

“We now need to carefully examine the details of the planning consent. Once we have done that, we will be able to comment further.”

Gatwick Airport’s expansion plan involves bringing its emergency runway into routine use.

Here the PA news agency answers 14 key questions about the project.

– How many runways does Gatwick have?

It has one conventional runway, and one standby runway.

– What is the standby runway used for?

It is mostly used for aircraft to taxi to and from terminals, but is also used when the main runway is closed for emergencies or maintenance.

– Why does Gatwick want to expand?

It is the UK’s second busiest airport and one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world.

Spare slots at peak periods are scarce and the runway is heavily utilised, meaning disruption can have a severe knock-on effect.

– What must happen to the standby runway for it to be brought into routine use?

It must be moved 12 metres to the north – away from the main runway – to meet strict aviation safety rules.

– What else does the plan involve?

Remodelling and replacing existing taxiways, which connect runways to terminals, hangars and other facilities, extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates.

– How about transport?

Gatwick says it would pay for road connections to both terminals to be enhanced, creating fly-overs which separate local traffic from vehicles travelling to or from the airport.

A £250 million upgrade of the airport’s railway station was completed in November 2023.

– What would the standby runway be used for?

Departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

– What impact would that have on Gatwick’s capacity for flights?

It would enable the airport to be used for about 386,000 flights per year, about 100,000 more than current levels.

– How about annual passenger numbers?

They could rise from about 45 million to 75 million by the late 2030s.

– How much will the project cost?

Gatwick says the plan will cost £2.2 billion.

– Who will pay for it?

The airport says the project will be privately financed. It has pledged to meet the cost without hiking charges to airlines.

– When could the new runway open?

A Government source suggested flights could take off from the new full runway before 2029.

– Who owns Gatwick Airport?

French company Vinci and investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners.

– Does Heathrow’s third runway proposal affect Gatwick?

The Government has indicated its support for Heathrow’s expansion plan.

But it is likely to be many years before construction on a third runway at the west London airport begins, and Gatwick is determined to boost its own capacity.