Jammu, October 21, 2025 – As Diwali lights start flickering in Raghunath Bazaar’s lanes, Jammu’s folks are finding extra reason to smile with the Centre’s GST reforms kicking in, slashing rates on everyday must-haves like agricultural tools and electronics. From Ramban’s hills to Rajouri’s markets, residents are voicing their thanks, calling it a timely lift for families still shaking off August’s flood mess that wrecked 4,000 homes and 150 lives.
Take Gagan Singh from Ramban, who went viral on local feeds this morning around 8 AM with his take: “The government’s GST drop on farm equipment is a game-changer – it’s helping everyone, from small holders to traders.” Echoing him, Amit Sharma from Rajouri at 9 AM hailed the cuts on electronics as “sparking market buzz, especially for festive buys.” Shivam Bakshi, also from Rajouri, chimed in by 10 AM: “One of the best moves by PM Modi – it’s lifting spirits amid the season.” Even from Kishtwar, K.K. Shan praised the reductions on essentials at 11 AM: “This people-friendly step is a win for all sections.”
These reforms, rolled out September 22 after the 56th GST Council meet, slimmed slabs to 5% for basics (down from 12-18%), 18% for most goods, and 40% for luxuries like tobacco. Agri gear, pumps, and electronics now at 5% could save Jammu’s farmers Rs 500 crore yearly, per state estimates. For our Dogra mix – Hindu vendors in Talab Tillo stocking cheaper TVs, Muslim herders in Akhnoor buying affordable irrigation kits, Sikh traders in Samba eyeing budget phones – it’s a pocket-friendly push post-floods. “Floods took our pumps; now we afford replacements,” a Gujjar farmer from Poonch shared over chai at noon.
Historically, GST’s 2017 launch unified taxes but hit small businesses hard; today’s tweaks fix that. Future? More savings as cess ends March 2026. CM Omar at 1 PM tweeted support: “GST reforms ease burdens.” For Jammu, amid LoC whispers (yesterday’s drone scare), it’s a sweet spot of relief. Check rates at gst.gov.in