Policy Watch India Foundation

[The Logical Indian @LogicalIndians]

A new white paper by Grant Thornton Bharat and the Policy Watch India Foundation has recommended reducing GST on smartphones priced below ₹25,000 from 18% to 5%, while retaining the existing 18% rate for costlier devices.

The report argues that affordable smartphones have become essential tools for education, banking, government services and digital payments. Since the sub-₹25,000 segment accounts for nearly two-thirds of India's smartphone market, the authors say lower taxes could help millions of first-time buyers and accelerate Digital India goals.

However, this is only a policy recommendation. The government has not announced any GST cut, and no decision has been taken by the GST Council so far.

The proposal reflects a broader policy debate: should smartphones now be treated as essential digital infrastructure rather than discretionary consumer products?

[GST, Smartphones, Digital India, Grant Thornton Bharat, The Logical Indian]

[ALL INDIA MOBILE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION @AimraIndia]

Smartphone GST India: Paper proposes 5% rate under Rs 25,000, 18% for higher-priced devices https://t.co/stkh8tdqnI

[Analytics Insight @analyticsinme]

क्या सस्ते होंगे स्मार्टफोन? सरकार जल्द दे सकती बड़ी राहत

स्मार्टफोन GST में बड़े बदलाव की सिफारिश सामने आई है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, 25 हजार से कम कीमत वाले फोन पर टैक्स घटाने से करोड़ों ग्राहकों को राहत मिल सकती है।

#SmartphoneGSTIndia #AffordableMobile #GSTReform2026 #MakeInIndia #HindiAI #HindiAnalyticsInsight

पढ़ें पूरी खबर 👇
https://t.co/rMdL1BpoyT

[DD News Telangana | తెలంగాణ న్యూస్ @ddyadagirinews]

GST సంస్కరణలు: వ్యాపారాలు, ప్రజలకు భారీ ఊరట

🔹 జీఎస్‌టీ కౌన్సిల్ తీసుకున్న నిర్ణయాలతో జిమ్‌లు, ఫిట్‌నెస్ సెంటర్లపై పన్నును 18% నుండి 5%కి తగ్గించి సామాన్యుడికి ఆరోగ్య రక్షణను మరింత చౌకగా మార్చారు.

🔹 మధ్యతరగతి ప్రజల వాహన కల నెరవేర్చేలా చిన్న కార్లు, 350సీసీ లోపు మోటార్ సైకిళ్లు, కమర్షియల్ వాహనాలపై జీఎస్‌టీని 28% నుండి 18%కి తగ్గించారు.

#GSTDay #OneNationOneTax #9YearsOfGST #GSTReforms

[Samayam Tamil @SamayamTamil]

புது போன் வாங்கப் போறீங்களா? ஸ்மார்ட்போன் விலை குறைய வாய்ப்பு https://t.co/sLiiHoa74v via @SamayamTamil

[𝐌𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐲 @nsalive3]

जब हर सरकारी सेवा मोबाइल पर आ रही है, तब स्मार्टफोन कोई विलासिता नहीं बल्कि ज़रूरत है।
सुलभ स्मार्टफोन, सशक्त नागरिक।
#DigitalIndia #GST #SmartphoneForAll #DigitalIndia #AffordableSmartphones #GSTReform #DigitalInclusion @FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn @PMOIndia

[𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 @GitaPath_]

GT Bharat और PWIF की संयुक्त White Paper एक महत्वपूर्ण सवाल उठाती है—
क्या डिजिटल युग में स्मार्टफोन को अब भी सिर्फ़ उपभोक्ता वस्तु माना जाए, या डिजिटल इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर? #GSTReform #DigitalIndia #PublicPolicy #SmartphoneAccess
@FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn @PMOIndia

[Sweta Srivastava @swetasamadhiya]

When governance, payments and public services are digital-first, affordable smartphones become essential infrastructure—not optional gadgets.
#DigitalIndia #PublicPolicy #GSTReform #DigitalAccess
@FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn @PMOIndia

[सृष्टि  @ShrishtySays]

Lower GST on smartphones below ₹25,000 isn't just about prices.
It's about helping students learn, women participate, rural India connect and millions access the digital economy.
#InclusiveGrowth #DigitalIndia #GST #Smartphones
@FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn @PMOIndia

[𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚 @irajendrashukla]

मोबाइल अब सिर्फ़ एक गैजेट नहीं, बल्कि शिक्षा, बैंकिंग, सरकारी योजनाओं और रोज़गार का सबसे बड़ा माध्यम है।
₹25,000 तक के स्मार्टफोन पर GST घटाना डिजिटल समावेशन की दिशा में बड़ा कदम हो सकता है। #DigitalIndia #AffordableSmartphones #GSTReform #DigitalInclusion @FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn

[𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐆𝐘𝐀𝐌 @Sarvagyamm]

Every affordable smartphone connects another family to UPI, DigiLocker, online education, telemedicine and government benefits.
Affordable access drives inclusive growth.
#DigitalIndia #FinancialInclusion #AffordableTech #GST
@FinMinIndia @jagograhakjago @GST_Council @nsitharamanoffc @PWIFIn @PMOIndia

[Policy Watch India Foundation @PWIFIn]

A policy recommendation that resonated nationwide.
The White Paper on GST rationalisation for affordable smartphones has been widely covered by India's leading media.

@FinMinIndia @GST_Council @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @mppchaudhary

#GST #WhitePaper #Smartphones #PublicPolicy

[Policy Watch India Foundation @PWIFIn]

PWIF & @GrantThorntonIN jointly released a White Paper on re-examining the GST framework for smartphones under ₹25,000, supporting #DigitalIndia and digital inclusion.

@FinMinIndia @GST_Council @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @mppchaudhary

#GST #WhitePaper #PublicPolicy

[Economic Times @EconomicTimes]

Cut GST on smartphones below Rs 25,000 to 5%: GT Bharat-PWIF report
https://t.co/O0Wryg9c2I

[Hindustan Times @htTweets]

Cut GST on smartphones below ₹25,000 to 5%: GT Bharat-PWIF report

https://t.co/pOLoOX3Ng8

[Earshot @EarshotPodcasts]

For 60 years India treated its Ministry of Education like a political consolation prize. What happens when a nation underinvests in the very system responsible for building its future workforce?

#EducationPolicy #HigherEducation #EducationReform

[Policy Watch India Foundation @PWIFIn]

New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, held from 10–18 Jan 2026.
9 days, 2M+ visitors, 50+ countries, 3,000 stalls, 1,000+ publishers, 30+ languages.

A living celebration of reading.

@EduMinOfIndia @dpradhanbjp @nbt_india

#NDWBF2026

[Policy Watch India Foundation @PWIFIn]

Books here don’t stay on shelves. They move through conversations, people, and moments, across generations, influential voices, and uniforms.

World Book Fair 2026 | Free Entry

📍Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
🗓️ 10–18 Jan 2026

@EduMinOfIndia @dpradhanbjp @nbt_india

#NDWBF2026

[Policy Watch India Foundation @PWIFIn]

Last Day Today | Free Entry
Not just a book fair, but a living cultural space where languages meet and stories come alive beyond the page. Don’t miss the final day.

📍 Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
🗓️ 10–18 Jan 2026

@EduMinOfIndia @dpradhanbjp @nbt_india

#NDWBF26 #ReadingIndia