GST Council May Lower Rates on Sanitary Napkins From 12% to 5% at Its Next Meet
Sanitary pads were placed in the 12 percent tax bracket, when the GST regime was implemented on July 1, 2017.
New Delhi, July 19: The Goods and Services Tax Council (GST) Council is mulling over the idea to lower rates on sanitary napkins in its meeting on July 21. According to a Business Standard report, the Council is planning to reduce the rates on a handful of products at its next meeting. Reports state that the GST on sanitary napkin is likely to be cut from 12 percent to five percent. GST rate cuts on handicrafts, handlooms, and e-books are also expected.
The Council will be meeting after over three months. Reportedly, some states are of the view that sanitary napkins must be shifted to the exempt category under GST. Sanitary pads were placed in the 12 percent tax bracket, when the GST regime was implemented on July 1, 2017.
Several women have expressed their views and ran campaigns on social media to protest against the 12 percent GST on sanitary napkins. Reportedly, the High Court also asked the government in 2017, that why are sanitary napkins not exempted from GST when items such as bindis, sindoor and Kajal were.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2018 02:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).