New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the next-generation GST reforms will accelerate India’s growth and make it easier for people to buy goods.

Speaking on the eve of Navratri, he wished everyone a happy festival and called the reforms a major step toward building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

“From tomorrow, the festival of Navratri is starting. I extend my best wishes to you. From the first day of Navratri, the country is taking an important step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Tomorrow, on the first day of Navratri, Next-Generation GST reforms will come into effect with sunrise,” he said.

He added, “From tomorrow in the nation, ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ will commence. Your savings will increase and you will be able to buy your favourite things… ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ will benefit all sections of the society…”

Modi recalled the challenges faced by businesses before GST. “I remember, in 2014, when the country entrusted me with the responsibility of Prime Minister, an interesting incident was published in a foreign newspaper during that initial period. It described the difficulties of a company. The company said that if it had to send its goods from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, 570 km away, it was so difficult that they considered it and said that they would prefer the company to first send its goods from Bengaluru to Europe and then send the same goods from Europe to Hyderabad. Friends, this was the situation at that time due to the complexities of taxes and tolls... At that time, millions of such companies, along with millions of countrymen, faced daily problems due to the maze of various taxes. The increased expenses incurred in transporting goods from one city to another were borne by the poor, and customers like you were charged. It was essential to free the country from this situation,” he said.

Modi reflected on the journey of implementing GST, saying, “When you gave us the opportunity in 2014, we made GST our priority in the public interest and in the national interest. We discussed with every stakeholder. We addressed every state's doubts and found solutions to every question. By taking all states on board, India's largest tax reform became possible. It was the result of the efforts of the central and state governments that the country was freed from the web of dozens of taxes, and a uniform system was established for the entire country. The dream of 'One Nation, One Tax' was realised.”

The Prime Minister has frequently addressed the nation to make major announcements. In 2016, he spoke to the country on demonetisation, and in 2019, he shared India’s successful test of the Anti-Satellite Missile, making the country part of an elite group of nations.

He also reached out to citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, providing guidance on lockdown measures and highlighting government initiatives to combat one of the most severe health crises in recent history.