GST Council Meet: GST rate on millet-based products slashed to 5%
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday decided to slash GST on millet flour food preparations from the current 18 per cent GST to 5 per cent, reported ANI citing sources.
The fitment committee of the GST Council had earlier recommended the exemption on powdered millet.
The committee had refused to give any incentive for prepared produce made out of millet.
Millet flour, known for its nutritional value and health benefits, has gained popularity among health-conscious consumers in India. The government's objective in lowering the GST rate on millet flour food preparations is to enhance public access to these nutritious food items.
India is observing 2023 as the 'Year of Millets' and the government is making efforts to boost the production and consumption of millets.
Earlier Union Agriculture Minister Tomar said millets are climate resilient and can be grown in less water and with minimal use of fertilisers and pesticides.
Acting upon India's proposal supported by 72 countries, the United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).
The declaration positioned India at the forefront of the celebrations.
The government has been working on 'mission mode' to champion millet as a crop good for farmers, the environment and consumers.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is chairing the 52nd GST Council meeting at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi today.
The meeting is being attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, besides Finance Ministers of States and UTs (with Legislature) and Senior officials from Union Government and States.
The GST Council convenes periodically to deliberate on matters related to the GST regime, including tax
