The 58th GST Council meeting, chaired by the Union Finance Minister, has placed a long-debated proposal on the formal agenda: merging the current 12% and 18% GST slabs into a single 15% rate. A Group of Ministers (GoM) has been constituted to evaluate the revenue impact, sector-wise effects, and implementation timeline. If approved, this would be the most significant structural change to the GST framework since its 2017 launch.
What the Merger Would Mean
Currently, the 12% slab covers items like butter, ghee, fruit juices, mobile phones, and business class air travel. The 18% slab covers most services (restaurants, IT services, financial services), consumer electronics, and a wide range of manufactured goods. A merged 15% rate would reduce prices on items currently at 18% and increase prices on items at 12%, with the net effect designed to be revenue-neutral.
For service providers, the reduction from 18% to 15% would translate to lower invoiced amounts for consumers. For example, a restaurant bill of 1,000 plus 18% GST (total 1,180) would become 1,000 plus 15% (total 1,150). For goods currently at 12%, such as mobile phones, the increase to 15% would add approximately 2.7% to the retail price.
Impact on Businesses
The simplification from four slabs (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) to three (5%, 15%, 28%) would significantly reduce compliance complexity for businesses operating across multiple product categories. Input tax credit mismatches between different slab rates, which currently require complex reconciliation, would be reduced. Small businesses, which bear disproportionate compliance costs, stand to benefit the most from reduced slab complexity.
However, certain sectors face pricing challenges. The pharmaceutical industry, where many products are at 12%, has flagged concerns about the affordability impact of a 15% rate on essential medicines. The textiles sector, which already underwent a contentious rate change in 2022, has sought stability assurances.
Timeline and Next Steps
The GoM is expected to submit its report by June 2026, with the GST Council potentially taking a decision in the July meeting. If approved, implementation is likely from 1 January 2027 to allow businesses adequate preparation time. The proposal requires unanimous agreement among all states on the GST Council, which historically has been challenging for rate changes that redistribute revenue across state boundaries.
Source
GST Council Meeting Minutes, 58th Meeting