PM Modi Speech Today Live Updates: It’s the turn of the poor, it’s the turn of the neo middle class, says PM Modi ahead of new GST rates rollout

TMC deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Sagarika Ghose said that the PM did not mention “that after mass suffering, stagnant incomes and job losses for the last five years, the Modi government has belatedly awakened to the need to reform GST... In 2016, Modi promised that 'Notebandi' will end black money. It didn’t happen. Then, in 2017 Modi promised GST 1.0 will end ‘tax terrorism’ and that didn’t happen. And instead a highly complicated GST structure led to GST Inspector Raj”.

On the PM's pitch to “buy Swadeshi”, she said, “But will the PM end his fascination for foreign branded products?”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Centre was taking “undue credit” for lowering GST rates. Without naming PM Modi, Banerjee said, “We are losing Rs 20,000 crore as revenue, but we are happy about the lowering of GST. But why are you (Modi) claiming credit? We had sought a lower GST. It was our suggestion at the GST Council meeting with the Union Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman).”

Reacting to the PM's 19-minute address to the nation, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X, “Narendra Modi ji, instead of the simple and efficient GST of the Congress party, your government imposed the 'Gabbar Singh Tax' by collecting 9 different slabs and collected over Rs 55 lakh crore in eight years. Now you are talking about a Rs 2.5 lakh crore 'savings festival' and applying a simple band-aid after inflicting deep wounds on the public!”

“The public will never forget that you collected the highest GST on their dal-chawal-grain, pencils, books, treatment, farmers' tractors — everything,” said the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta says, "No words can truly express my gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. With GST now reduced on 98 pc of goods, its benefits will directly reach the people. On behalf of Delhi, I sincerely thank Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. We will ensure that the direct benefits of this reform reach the people."

On PM Modi's address to the nation, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "Navratri starts tomorrow, and from the same day, a grand GST celebration will begin. Prime Minister Modi has taken a historic decision. There has been a major reduction in GST rates, which will bring significant savings for women, middle-class families, farmers, and the MSME sector. Before 2014, there were around 50 different types of taxes in the country, creating a complex web that increased the burden on every citizen, and there was a lack of political will. This decision will result in substantial savings starting tomorrow."

PTI input

"PM Modi is covering his failures in a new wrapper and asking people to celebrate 'utsav'. Who is responsible for the exploitation that went on for 8 years?" RJD MP Manoj Jha tells news agency PTI.

Responding to PM Modi's address to the nation, Congress leader Imran Masood told PTI, “After collecting Rs 55 lakh crore through wrong taxation, PM Modi is now saying that the new GST rates have been reduced; it’s unfortunate.”

Commenting on PM Modi's address to the nation, DMK Spokesperson Saravanan says, "Caught with their hands in the cookie jar, the BJP is trying to deflect attention. Why wasn't this Diwali gift given in 2024 or earlier?"

With PTI input

Linking the rollout of the revised Goods and Services Tax structure to the start of the Navratri festival Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that the start of the “GST Bachat Utsav” (savings festival), along with the income tax relief announced earlier, will bring happiness to every family in the form of increased savings, accelerate India’s growth story, make business easier, investment more attractive, and ensure that every state becomes an equal partner in the development race.

Prices of kitchen staples to electronics, from medicines and equipment to automobiles, will get cheaper from Monday as reduced GST rates on about 375 items come into effect.

In a bonanza to consumers, the GST Council, comprising Centre and states, decided to reduce tax rates on goods and services, from September 22 -- the first day of Navaratri.

The Congress on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking "sole ownership" of the amendments made to the GST regime and said the current reforms were inadequate, with no resolution to the states' demand for an extension of compensation for another five years. The opposition party slammed the reforms as "applying band-aid after inflicting deep wounds" and said the government should apologise to the public for its GST on essential items.

When India took a step towards GST reforms in 2017, a new beginning was made to script history, he said.

Be proud to say its Made in India, says PM Modi

Every house and shop should be swadeshi, says PM Modi

Mantra of Swadeshi gave strength to freedom movement, Swadeshi will also strengthen our quest for prosperity, says PM Modi

“Now, there will primarily be only 5 per cent and 18 per cent tax slabs. This means that goods used in everyday life will become more affordable,” PM Modi said.

Commenting on GST reforms, PM Modi says decisions are made for raising I-T exemption limit.

PM Modi cites income tax exemption on earning upto Rs 12 lakh, GST reforms; says 'double bonanza' for poor, neo-middle class, middle class

PM Modi reiterates on self-reliance or Aatmanirbharata and urges people to manufacture items locally.

GST reforms will bring happiness to every family, will accelerate India's growth story, says PM Modi

Next gen GST reforms being implemented from tomorrow, it is like 'GST saving festival', says PM Modi

You will be able to buy your favourite items with ease from tomorrow, says PM Modi

PM Modi has begun his address and he extended greetings on Navratri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will shortly address the nation. Stay tuned here to know what he says.

While PM Modi is set to address the nation shortly, the hike in US H-1B visa fees to $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh) has led to fear and anxiety among many visa seekers. There is no official confirmation on the subject of his address. Our reporters Nikhila Henry, Vidheesha Kuntamalla and Saman Hussain shed light on the lives upended by Trump’s H-1B proclamation.

On Saturday, a family of three — wife, husband and child — who were vacationing in Dubai rushed to Abu Dhabi’s international airport on receiving a call from their employer to return immediately to California.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, the woman, who is from Telangana and did not wish to be identified, said, “We were told we need to cross the immigration line before midnight of September 21. We were relieved when we managed to, but several of our friends are in India and unable to get a flight out to the US.”

According to the World Telugu Federation, one in every three Indians in Silicon Valley is a Telugu-speaking person from either Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address comes after US President Donald Trump gave nod to hike in H-1B visa fees to $100,000, which is likely to impact Indian visa seekers adversely. While there is no official confirmation on the subjects Modi will speak about during his speech, we take a look back at what he said yesterday in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Saying that India’s biggest “enemy” today is dependence on other countries, Modi reiterated his call for self-reliance.

Modi said: “Bharat aaj vishwabandhu ke bhavna se aage badh raha hai. Duniya mein hamara koi bada dushman nahin hai. Sacche arth mein agar hamara koi dushman hai, toh woh hai doosre deshon par hamari nirbharta (India is moving forward today with the spirit of global brotherhood. It has no major enemy in the world. But, if India has an enemy in the true sense, it is dependence on other nations).”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned technology into India’s greatest equalizer. A street vendor in Mumbai uses the same UPI payment system as a corporate executive. Technology, in his vision, knows no hierarchy.

This transformation reflects his core philosophy of antyodaya — reaching the last person in the queue. Every digital initiative aims to democratise technology for all. What began as experiments in Gujarat became the foundation for India’s digital revolution. Read more

Sources indicate that PM Modi may speak on the GST rollout, which is set to kick in tomorrow. While the suspense remains, here's what Gourav Vallabh wrote in his column

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) journey has been nothing short of transformative. Dismissed at its inception in 2017 by critics as the “Gabbar Singh Tax”, it was accused of burdening citizens and businesses alike. In reality, the chaotic pre-GST regime was the real Gabbar Singh Tax, a fragmented mesh of excise, VAT, and service taxes that bred inefficiency, rent-seeking, and inflated costs. Trucks idled at state borders, small firms juggled multiple filings, and consumers paid the price. GST replaced this with a unified system, which lowered taxes on essentials and created a more rational framework. And now, with GST 2.0, which comes into effect on September 22, India has taken a decisive step forward, streamlining slabs and cutting rates.

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Ahead of PM Modi's address, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh took to X saying, "The Prime Minister is preparing to address the nation, while in Washington DC, his good friend has once again stolen his headlines by claiming for the 42nd time that he stopped Operation Sindoor by taking advantage of the growing trade with America. Will the Prime Minister respond to these claims and speak on the continuously deteriorating India-US relations? Will he address the concerns of millions of Indian H1B holders? Or will he just repeat the same thing we all know about the new GST rates?"