Business
New GST Rates Likely To Be Implemented By September 22, Says Report
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The GST Council will meet in the national capital on September 3-4 to deliberate on the Centre’s proposal for a simplified two-rate GST structure of 5% and 18%.
Notifications on the new GST rates will likely be issued within five to seven days after the Council’s decision.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is likely to roll out new GST rate slabs around September 22 to push festive demand in the country, NDTV Profit has reported citing government sources. The implementation is expected to coincide with the Navratri celebrations.
The GST Council will meet in the national capital on September 3-4 to deliberate on the Centre’s proposal for a simplified two-rate GST structure of 5% and 18%. According to the report, notifications on the new rates will likely be issued within five to seven days after the Council’s decision.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on rate rationalisation, compensation cess, and health and life insurance met earlier this week and, in principle, agreed to the Centre’s plan for a two-slab GST.
As per the reforms proposed by the Centre, GST would move from the current four-tier structure of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% to a two-rate system. Goods and services would be classified under ‘merit’ (5%) and ‘standard’ (18%) categories. A special 40% rate would apply on select luxury and sin goods such as ultra-premium cars, while certain labour-intensive items would continue to enjoy concessional rates as low as 0.1%, 0.3% or 0.5% to support employment-intensive sectors.
On Independence Day 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the upcoming reforms, describing them as ‘GST 2.0’. Calling GST one of the most significant reforms since its launch in 2017, he underscored the need for rationalisation to provide relief to the common man, farmers, the middle class, and MSMEs.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also said the new GST regime will make people self-sufficient and boost growth in manufacturing and MSMEs.
Speaking to Groups of Ministers (GoMs) on rate rationalisation, insurance taxation, and compensation cess, Sitharaman last week said the proposal by the central government is with a vision to usher in the next generation of GST reforms in India’s journey towards becoming the Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Exemption for Insurance Premiums For Individuals
Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, who is also the convenor of insurance GoM, said the Centre has proposed exempting health and life insurance premiums from GST for individuals, to which some states differed. Currently, such premiums attract 18% GST.
“The Centre’s proposal is clear that the insurance sector’s individual and family (policies) should be exempt from GST. This has been discussed and the GoM report will be presented to the Council,” Choudhary told reporters last week after the GoM meeting.
The panel, comprising ministers from 13 states including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, will submit its report to the GST Council by October-end.
Union Minister of State for Finance, Chief Minister of Goa, Deputy CM of Bihar and Finance Ministers of States in the three GoMs were also present at the meeting.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
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The government on Thursday kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre and Rs257.08 per litre respectively, for the coming fortnight, starting from January 16.
This decision was notified in a press release issued by the Petroleum Division.
Earlier, it was expected that the prices of all petroleum products would go down by up to Rs4.50 per litre (over 1pc each) today in view of variation in the international market.
Petrol is primarily used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers, and directly impacts the budgets of the middle and lower-middle classes.
Meanwhile, most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary, as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains, and agricultural engines such as trucks, buses, tractors, tube wells, and threshers, and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.
The government is currently charging about Rs100 per litre on petrol and about Rs97 per litre on diesel.
Business
Gold price today: How much 22K, 24K gold cost in Delhi, Patna & other cities – Check rates – The Times of India
Gold prices climbed to a fresh lifetime high in the domestic market on Thursday amid sustained buying by jewellers and stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association.Gold advanced by Rs 800 to hit a new peak of Rs 1,47,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), extending gains for the fifth consecutive session. The yellow metal had closed at Rs 1,46,500 per 10 grams in the previous session.Since the start of 2026, gold prices have surged Rs 9,600, or around 7 per cent, supported by persistent demand in the physical market. In overseas trade, spot gold slipped USD 12.22, or 0.26 per cent, to USD 4,614.45 per ounce, after having touched a record high of USD 4,643.06 per ounce in the previous session.Here is how much gold costs in major Indian cities today:
Gold price in Delhi today
The price of 22K gold in Delhi is Rs 13,140 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold is priced at Rs 14,333 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Chennai today
In Chennai, 22K gold costs Rs 13,290 per gram, up Rs 10, while 24K gold is priced at Rs 14,498 per gram, higher by Rs 10.
Gold price in Mumbai today
Mumbai markets see 22K gold priced at Rs 13,125 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold stands at Rs 14,318 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Ahmedabad today
In Ahmedabad, 22K gold is priced at Rs 13,130 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold costs Rs 14,323 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Kolkata today
Kolkata markets price 22K gold at Rs 13,125 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold stands at Rs 14,318 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Jaipur today
In Jaipur, 22K gold costs Rs 13,140 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold is priced at Rs 14,333 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Hyderabad today
Hyderabad sees 22K gold at Rs 13,125 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold is priced at Rs 14,318 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Bhubaneswar today
Bhubaneswar markets see 22K gold priced at Rs 13,125 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold costs Rs 14,318 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Patna today
In Patna, 22K gold costs Rs 13,130 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold is priced at Rs 14,323 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
Gold price in Lucknow today
Lucknow markets see 22K gold priced at Rs 13,140 per gram, down Rs 75, while 24K gold costs Rs 14,333 per gram, lower by Rs 82.
One of Britain’s most prolific rail fare dodgers could face jail after admitting dozens of travel offences.
Charles Brohiri, 29, pleaded guilty to travelling without buying a ticket a total of 112 times over a two-year period, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
He could be ordered to pay more than £18,000 in unpaid fares and legal costs, the court was told.
He will be sentenced next month.
District Judge Nina Tempia warned Brohiri “could face a custodial sentence because of the number of offences he has committed”.
He pleaded guilty to 76 offences on Thursday.
It came after he was convicted in his absence of 36 charges at a previous hearing.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Tempia dismissed a bid by Brohiri’s lawyers to have the 36 convictions overturned.
They had argued the prosecutions were unlawful because they had not been brought by a qualified legal professional.
But Judge Tempia rejected the argument, saying there had been “no abuse of this court’s process”.
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