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Much like any brand’s annual sale, the government has rolled out its own version with GST 2.0, slashing rates and racing to make sure customers see the discounts before Diwali shopping begins. Announced on September 3, the reform is now implemented, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pushing rate notifications, faster registrations and refunds, and instructions to companies to display revised prices in time for the festive rush.From August 15 to date, while the move looked quick, the GST Council had already been weighing these changes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signal from the Red Fort only sped up a decision that was waiting to be taken, pushing the GST Council to lock it in before the festive season.The reform cuts four GST slabs into just two, 5% and 18%, with exemptions on essentials and health insurance. While the announcement itself promised relief, the real test is delivery. With Navratri starting September 22, the finance ministry has rolled out multiple measures to ensure customers actually see lower bills and not just policy headlines.Also Read: Modi's Diwali gift unwrapped- GST reset kicks in, easing pressure on your walletGST 2.0: What changedThe GST Council, chaired by Sitharaman, approved sweeping rationalisation. Staples like parathas, paneer, UHT milk, biscuits, sauces and dry fruits now attract either 5% GST or are fully exempt. Personal care products such as hair oil and toothpaste have also moved down to 5%.Big-ticket durables like air conditioners, refrigerators, large televisions and washing machines have been shifted from the highest 28% slab to 18%. Smaller vehicles up to 350cc, auto parts and cement now also fall under 18%.Health and life insurance premiums, a long-standing demand from the middle class, are now fully exempt from GST, removing the earlier 18% levy.In all, about 400 commonly used items are facing lower tax rates.“We have reduced slabs… corrected the inverted duty structure … These reforms have been carried out keeping in mind the common man,” Sitharaman said after the Council’s approval.According to the Finance Minister, while the government will bear a fiscal implication of ₹48,000 crore, the move will leave ₹2 lakh crore in the hands of the people. For instance, a report by Grant Thornton shows GST 2.0 could shave ₹400-600 off the monthly grocery bill for a middle-class family that spends about ₹10,000 on staples, frozen foods, edible oils and packaged items. For an annual health cover, too, families could save nearly ₹7,000-8,000 once life and health insurance are exempt from GST. These may seem small individually, but added together with multiple items, the relief accumulates, making staples, sweets and even gadgets more affordable just ahead of the festive shopping rush.Also Read: The ₹2 lakh crore cash in hand for Indians may do wondersSitharaman & Co working on groundSince the announcement of GST 2.0, the finance ministry has focused on execution to make sure rate cuts translate into lower consumer prices before the festive season. It can be said that unlike the RBI rate cuts, the tax reforms appear to be reaching the common man at a much quicker pace and in reality. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been travelling across cities, holding interactive sessions with traders, industry bodies, and consumers. In Visakhapatnam, she said the GST cut would inject about ₹2 lakh crore into the economy, while in Kolkata she tied the rollout to Durga Puja and highlighted benefits for local sectors such as garments, handicrafts, and Malda mangoes.The town-hall meetings have a clear purpose: they help shopkeepers and small manufacturers understand the new GST rates, answer practical questions about compliance, and resolve issues with billing or inventory updates. Beyond just explaining the rules, these sessions show that the ministry is actively following up to make sure the reforms are actually implemented on the ground.Politically, the outreach sends a signal that the government is directly engaged with businesses and consumers, reinforcing the image of hands-on governance associated with “Brand Modi.” It also helps build trust among small traders, retailers, and local communities.Alongside outreach, Sitharaman chaired three separate high-level meetings with GSTN officials, ERP vendors, and ministry teams to check system readiness for the new slabs. These sessions were crucial to prevent glitches in filing, invoicing, and refunds, coordinate timelines with states and vendors, and ensure that businesses, from large manufacturers to MSMEs, could transition smoothly.Also Read: Income tax exemption, combined with GST reforms, will result in savings of Rs 2.5 lakh crore, says PM Modi “It is only after making sure, just in case it gets passed, because I wouldn’t know whether the council passes it or not. I said, in case the council gets this through, will my GSTN system be ready for it? How long will you take to get ready?” she told PTI.Other steps by the governmentNotification of new ratesOn September 17, the ministry issued formal notifications for the revised GST structure, with effect from September 22. States are aligning their own SGST notifications with the central decision. Businesses have been given just under two weeks to update billing systems and re-label products.Display and Labelling Requirements To ensure transparency under GST 2.0, manufacturers must provide revised or supplementary price lists to dealers, retailers, and regulators. For medicines and medical devices already in the market before September 22, 2025, re-labelling is not mandatory; retailers can sell existing stock using the revised price lists.Industry Outreach The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has been holding consultations with manufacturers, retailers and e-commerce platforms to smoothen transition issues, from ERP system updates to invoicing across supply chains.Faster Registration and RefundsThe GST Council cleared process reforms alongside rate cuts. Non-risky businesses can now expect registrations within three days. Refunds in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, fertilisers and pharmaceuticals must be processed within seven days. Exporters with small claims below ₹1,000 will receive instant refunds. Auto-refunds and pre-filled returns are also planned from October.The ifs & buts and how industry is respondingEvery good story has a “but,” and GST 2.0 is no different. While the reforms promise significant savings, a slew of challenges could test their rollout. Small and medium businesses must rapidly upgrade ERP and billing systems, and retailers with large inventories face logistical hurdles in updating price lists. Some shopkeepers in remote towns may still be unclear on the new rates, and coordination between central and state GST systems could create temporary confusion for multi-state operations. Even consumers might not immediately see the benefits if discounts are not clearly displayed, showing that while the story of GST 2.0 is one of relief, its impact depends on careful execution at every step.However, the industry is already responding. Consumer-facing sectors are expanding staffing and sharpening promotional campaigns. According to an ET Bureau report, temporary hiring in retail, electronics and FMCG is up by 20-25% compared to last year, as businesses prepare for a surge in festive demand post-GST cuts. Major online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart are also preparing for big sales. Amazon's Great Indian Festival begins September 23, a day after the new GST slabs become effective. Retailers are negotiating with brands to reset pricing, stock up inventory, and plan discounts so that lower GST translates into visible savings.

Last-minute travel bookings to the United States increased on Sunday after the announcement of the $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike, according to MakeMyTrip, as reported by ET Now. President Donald Trump had signed a proclamation on Friday introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, a move expected to change the US immigration landscape. The administration said the fee will allow only 'extraordinarily skilled' workers to enter the country and aims to prevent companies from hiring foreign professionals in place of American employees. A MakeMyTrip spokesperson said, “There has been a notable increase in last-minute bookings to the USA since this morning. This increase in bookings for same-day or next-day travel is atypical for a long-haul segment.”The new H-1B feeThe United States clarified that the $100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B petitions filed on or after 12:01 AM ET, September 21, 2025. Petitions filed before the deadline are not impacted. The rule does not affect: Existing H-1B visa holders Renewal applications Travel for those with valid H-1B visas The proclamation, signed on September 19, 2025, is part of a broader immigration shift. It focuses on limiting visa use by lower-wage workers and prioritising “extraordinarily skilled” professionals. India, which accounts for a significant share of H-1B visa holders, is expected to see the most immediate impact. Industry experts note that the higher cost may burden both employers and workers. However, supporters argue the measure could safeguard jobs for American workers.The H-1B visa fee updateIn a single day, the US immigration landscape changed dramatically, affecting the technology sector and programs widely used by global and Indian IT companies. By Saturday night, the White House clarified that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee would only apply to new visas, not renewals or existing holders, providing partial relief but leaving businesses and workers uncertain.The proclamation stated that companies hiring foreign professionals under the H-1B route must pay $100,000 per worker. The Trump administration said the measure would allow only “extraordinarily skilled” individuals to enter the country and reduce reliance on foreign talent to replace American workers. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted that past visa policies had allowed workers earning below-average salaries, sometimes relying on government support. He added that the new fee would filter out the “bottom quartile” and generate over $100 billion for the US Treasury. President Trump said the funds collected would help reduce national debt and taxes. “Big tech loves the idea,” he added. Impact on India and markets The announcement had a major impact in India, which accounts for about 71% of H-1B visa holders, most of them in the US technology sector. Leading Indian IT firms such as Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, and Cognizant rely heavily on this program to staff US projects. Market reaction was immediate with shares of IT services companies, including US-listed Indian firms, dropping between 2% and 5% following the news. Critics argued the move could hurt talent mobility and innovation, while supporters said it would prevent wage suppression and encourage American companies to hire and train local graduates.Within 24 hours, the White House clarified on X that the $100,000 fee would not apply to current H-1B visa holders, renewals, or those selected in the latest H-1B lottery, effective October 1.

The Pentagon has unveiled new restrictions on media covering the US military, requiring them to pledge not to disclose anything not formally authorized for publication and limiting their movements within the Department of War.The new guidelines, laid out in a lengthy memo distributed to reporters on Friday, require them to sign an affidavit promising to comply -- or risk losing their media credentials.The move is the latest by the administration of President Donald Trump to control media coverage of his policies, and after he suggested that negative stories could be "illegal."The Pentagon "remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust," the memo says.But it adds: "Information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified" -- effectively barring material sourced to unnamed officials.This new restriction would apply to both classified and "controlled unclassified information."The memo also details sweeping new restrictions on where Pentagon reporters can actually go without official escorts within the military's vast headquarters just outside Washington."The 'press' does not run the Pentagon -- the people do," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X."The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules -- or go home."The new rules come months after Hegseth faced stark criticism for revealing timings of US air strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels in a Signal group chat that inadvertently included a reporter.Hegseth -- a former Fox News co-host and Army National Guard veteran -- was also reported to have shared those details in a separate Signal group chain that included his wife.A spokesperson for The New York Times -- a frequent target of Trump's ire -- called the new rules "yet another step in a concerning pattern of reducing access to what the US military is undertaking at taxpayer expense."National Press Club President Mike Balsamo hit out at the new rules, and called on the Pentagon to quickly rescind them."If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting," Balsamo said in a statement. "It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American."

New Delhi, A delegation led by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will visit the United States for trade talks on September 22, the commerce ministry said on Saturday. The delegation plans to take forward discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement, it said. The minister will visit New York and will be accompanied with special secretary in the ministry Rajesh Agrawal and other officials. During the last visit of the team of officials from the office of United States Trade Representative to India on September 16, 2025, positive discussions were held on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard. "In continuation of these discussions, a delegation led by Commerce and Industries Minister is visiting the United States for meetings with the US side on 22nd September 2025," it said.