GST at 9: A Reform Still in Motion

July 2, 2026

When India rolled out the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017, it was hailed as the country’s most ambitious tax reform since Independence. Before that, India’s indirect tax regime was a patchwork of 17 different taxes and 13 cesses levied by the Centre and the states.

This fragmented system created inefficiencies, hidden costs, and the notorious “tax on tax” effect that burdened businesses and consumers alike. GST replaced this chaos with a unified framework, embodying the principle of “One Nation, One Tax”. The reform was not just about taxation; it was about building a common national market and strengthening the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. GST has not been static. Over the years, it has undergone continuous reforms, supported by digital infrastructure and cooperative federalism through the GST Council.

The Council’s ability to adapt — whether by revising rates, easing compliance, or correcting inverted duty structures — has been crucial in keeping the system responsive to economic realities. The watershed moment came in 2025 with the launch of “GST 2.0”. This nextgeneration reform streamlined the rate structure to two primary slabs — five per cent and 18 per cent — while introducing a 40 per cent levy on luxury and sin goods such as tobacco, online gaming, and high-end cars. GSTN provides IT infrastructure and services to the Union and state governments, taxpayers, and other stakeholders for implementation of GST. One of GST’s most significant achievements has been its embrace of technology.

GSTN has enabled real-time invoice capture, pre-filled returns, and AI-driven analytics to detect evasion. This shift to data-driven administration has improved accuracy, reduced mismatches, and made tax collections more predictable. Any reform is based on factual experiences. And the easier it is to comply, the higher will be tax collection.

Thus, compliance was simplified in GST 2.0, refunds were expedited, and costs lowered, especially for MSMEs and startups. For households, exemptions on insurance and essential medicines brought tangible relief. The reform’s impact has been felt across sectors. MSMEs, artisans, and exporters have benefited from reduced input costs and easier compliance. Farmers and households have seen cheaper goods and services, boosting consumption and savings.

Challenges do remain. Disputes over classification, compliance costs for certain sectors, and the complexity of dual GST (CGST and SGST) continue to test businesses. While reforms have reduced friction, the promise of a truly seamless tax regime is still a work in progress. Meanwhile, GST collections have become a reliable barometer of economic activity, reflecting both consumption trends and formalisation gains.

The numbers tell the story: taxpayers have grown from 66.5 lakh in 2017 to 1.65 crore as on May 2026. Tax collections have surged from Rs 7.4 lakh crore in 2017-18 to Rs 22.27 lakh crore in 2025-26, with momentum continuing into 2026-27, reaching around Rs 4.37 lakh crore during April-May 2026. Nine years on, GST is both a milestone achieved and a journey ongoing. Its success lies not only in rationalising India’s tax system but in continuously adapting to the needs of citizens and businesses.