New year day: Jet fuel, petrol, diesel, LPG cheaper, Rupee rises against US dollar in early trade, 23 items go cheaper due to GST cut

Gandhiniagar: In a new year gift to citizens, the Government of India has announced major reduction in the LPG Gas Cylinder. The rate of non – subsidised LPG cylinder has been cut by Rs 120.50 while the price of subsidised LPG cylinder has been cut by Rs 5.91.

In another good news, new GST rates are effective from today. This makes TV, monitor and 22 other items to get cheaper.The consumers will pay less for these items of common consumption as the incidence of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on them will come down from today.

The GST Council on December 22 decided to cut tax rates on 23 goods and services, including movie tickets, TV and monitor screens and power banks and exempted frozen and preserved vegetables from the levy.

The Council had rationalised the 28 per cent slab and restricted the highest slab to luxury, demerit, and sin goods, besides cement, large screen TV, Air Conditioners and dishwashers.

The goods on which GST has been lowered to 18 per cent from 28 per cent at present include pulleys, transmission shafts and cranks, gear boxes, retreaded or used tyres, power banks of lithium ion batteries, digital cameras, video camera recorders and video game consoles.

The GST Council has also decided to slash tax rate on parts and accessories for the carriages for disabled persons from 28 per cent to 5 per cent. Also third party insurance premium of goods carrying vehicles has been reduced from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.

The other items which will attract lower GST rate of 5 per cent include marble rubble, natural cork, walking stick, fly ash blocks.

Music books and vegetables (uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water), frozen, branded and put in an unit container and vegetables provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption have been exempted from GST.

Services supplied by banks to basic savings bank deposit account holders under the Jan Dhan Yojana will not attract the GST.

Air travel of pilgrims by non-scheduled/charter operations being facilitated by the government under bilateral arrangements will attract a lower GST rate of 5 per cent.

GST on movie tickets costing up to Rs 100 has been cut to 12 per cent, from 18 per cent. Also tickets over Rs 100 will attract 18 per cent GST, against 28 per cent earlier. Monitors and TV screens up to 32 inches and power banks will attract 18 per cent GST, as against 28 per cent earlier.

In one more good news, fuel prices continue to tumble on first day of new year 2019 with petrol price falling by 19 paise and diesel by 20 paise today. Petrol is now cheaper by about Re 1 than the price on 1st January 2018 year ago. In last 3 months, petrol has fallen by about Rs 15, diesel by Rs 13.

Further good development, Rupee rose by 15 paise to 69.62 against US dollar in early trade today.

In another news of relief, Jet fuel price (ATF) was cut today by a record 14.7 per cent on the back of decline in international rates, making it cheaper than both petrol and diesel. This has brought ATF rates to their lowest levels in a year and will provide much-needed relief to cash-strapped airlines.