Congress MP KC Venugopal on Monday moved suspension of business notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss inflation and the recent increase in GST of some essential commodities.
"I hereby give a notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for July 18, 2022. The record-breaking inflation in the country has worsened the situation of the common people amid a huge increase in the process of essential commodities including pulses, edible oils, LPG, petrol, diesel coupled with the recent increase in GST of many other essential commodities," the notice reads.
The centre has decided to hike GST on essential items from today.
Pre-packaged and labelled pulses, and cereals like rice, wheat, and flour (atta) will now attract GST at the rate of 5 per cent when branded and packed in a unit container.
Other items such as curd, lassi, and puffed rice too would attract GST at the rate of 5 per cent when pre-packaged and labelled.
The decision to hike GST on these items were taken in the recently held 47th GST Council meeting in Chandigarh.
It is also clarified that a single package of these items [cereals, pulses, flour) containing a quantity of more than 25 Kg or 25 litre would not fall in the category of a pre-packaged and labelled commodity for the purposes of GST and would therefore not attract GST.
Other items that will be dearer are printing, writing or drawing ink, knives with cutting blades, paper knives, pencil sharpeners and blades, spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, and cake-servers. These items would now attract 18 per cent instead of 12 per cent.
LED lamps and solar water heaters too will attract 18 per cent tax.
Further, Tetra Pak (or aseptic packaging paper) used for packaging liquid beverages or dairy products will now attract 18 per cent GST instead of 12 per cent. Cut and Polished diamonds will be taxed at 1.5 per cent compared to 0.25 per cent earlier.
Also, hotel accommodation rates up to Rs 1000 per day will now be now taxed at 12 per cent,
On the other hand, tax on transport of goods and passengers by ropeways would decline to 5 per cent from 18 per cent.
Renting of truck/goods carriage where the cost of fuel is included will be cheaper as the tax is reduced to 12 per cent instead of 18 per cent.
( With inputs from ANI )
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