Daijiworld Media Network - Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur, Sep 22: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has welcomed the rollout of the latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, calling them a game-changer for India’s economy and a timely gift for citizens as they enter the festive season.

Speaking from Gorakhpur on the first day of Shardiya Navratri, the Chief Minister met with local traders to mark the reform’s implementation and later addressed the media following a Janata Darbar session.

"Today marks the beginning of Shardiya Navratri with the worship of Goddess Shailputri. On this auspicious occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the country a Diwali gift in the form of major GST reforms," Adityanath said.

Outlining the key changes, he noted that the GST rates on several everyday consumer items have been slashed significantly — from 18% and 12% to as low as 5% or even 0%.

"This is the biggest GST reform so far," he said. "It will directly benefit the common citizen by increasing their purchasing power during the festive season. Farmers and students too will see immediate advantages, with GST on agricultural inputs and educational materials now reduced to 5% or 0%."

The Chief Minister also highlighted the reforms in healthcare, noting that many medicines would now become more affordable due to revised tax rates.

"This reform will inject fresh momentum into the Indian economy," he explained. "As purchasing power increases, so will market demand and production — leading to job creation and economic expansion. A single reform, but countless benefits."

Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a large-scale public awareness campaign to inform citizens and stakeholders about the new changes.

"Today, we reached out directly to traders, consumers, and the public. The slogan resonating across the state is: 'Ghati GST, mila uphaar, dhanyawad Modi Sarkar!' (GST reduced, received a gift — thank you, Modi government!)," he said.

He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for spearheading the reforms, calling it a "visionary step" aligned with the nation’s aspirations.

"Every household, every shop, every citizen is now celebrating the festival season with renewed enthusiasm. I feel fortunate to be a part of this historic moment and extend my best wishes to all on the occasion of Shardiya Navratri," he concluded.