India beats Bangladesh by 7 wickets in first T20, chase down total in 11.5 overs
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the GST Council has decided to lower the tax rates on certain cancer drugs from 12% to 5% during the 54th meeting. This significant reduction aims to make these life-saving medications more affordable for patients. Additionally, the GST rate on Namkeen has been reduced from 18% to 12%, offering some relief to everyday consumers.
The council is also considering reducing GST rates on medical health insurance, with a final decision to be made in November. A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will review the matter and submit a report by the end of October.
Sitharaman also highlighted the growth in revenue from online gaming, which surged by 412% in the last six months, reaching ₹6,909 crore. The revenue from casinos also saw an increase of 34% in the same period. The minister noted that a GoM will be formed to address the cessation of compensation cess after March 2026.