GST : List of items in the 28% slab

List of items in 28% slab of Goods and Services Tax (GST):

• Sugar and sugar confectionery
• Cocoa and cocoa preparations
• Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks’ products
• Miscellaneous edible preparations
• Pan masala
• Beverages, spirit and vinegar
• Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
• Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement
• Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
• Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks.
• Essential oils and resinoids, perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations
• Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations
• Artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations
• Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
• Chemical products
• Plastics and articles thereof
• Rubber and articles thereof
• Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
• Furskin and artificial fur
• Wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal
• Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
• Headgear and parts thereof
• Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feather or of down – artificial flowers; articles of human hair
• Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar material
• Ceramic products
• Glass and glassware
• Articles of iron or steel
• Copper and articles thereof
• Aluminium and articles thereof
• Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
• Miscellaneous articles of base metal
• Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
• Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and re-producers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
• Vehicles other than railway or tramway rollingstocks, and parts and accessories thereof
• Aircraft; spacecraft and parts thereof
• Ships, boats and floating structures
• Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
• Clocks and watches and parts thereof
• Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles
• Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories
• Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings
• Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof
• Miscellaneous manufactured articles
• Project imports, laboratory chemicals, passengers’ baggage, personal importation, ship stores.

with thanks : India.com : LINK : for detailed news

GST : List of items in the 18% slab

List of items in the 18% slab

The list of items in the 18% slab will be divided into two sections. The first section is the goods section and will name the various items that will be in this slab. However, the second section shall include the names of the various services that will be affected and has been put in the 18% slab.

Goods

The products under the 18% slab are:

• Trademark
• Bidi Patta
• Goodwill
• Software
• Biscuits (all categories)
• flavoured refined sugar
• pasta
• pastries and cakes
• preserved vegetables
• jams and sauces
• soups
• ice cream
• instant food mixes
• mineral water
• tissues
• envelopes
• tampons
• notebooks
• steel products
• printed circuits
• camera
• speakers and monitors
• Kajal pencil sticks
• Headgear and parts thereof,
• Aluminium foil,
• Weighing Machinery [other than electric or electronic weighing machinery],
• Printers [other than multifunction printers],
• Electrical Transformer,
• CCTV,
• Optical Fiber,
• Bamboo furniture
• Swimming pools and padding pools
• Curry paste;
• mayonnaise
• salad dressings;
• mixed condiments and
• mixed seasonings
• Footwear costing more than RS. 500

Now coming to the Services part, the top service to be taxed in accordance with the 18 percent slab are:

• AC hotels that serve alcohol
• telecom services
• IT services
• branded garments
• financial services

Notably, Rooms with tariff between Rs 2,500 and Rs 7,500 will attract 18 percent of GST, while restaurants in Five-star hotels will also be charged according to the 18 percent slab.

with thanks : India.com : LINK : for detailed news

Sanitation supervisors call off strike after EDMC threatens to invoke ESMA

NEW DELHI: The sanitation supervisors of east Delhi Delhi on Tuesday evening called off their indefinite strike called against delayed salaries and lack of regular promotions after East Delhi municipal corporation released two months salary and promised to consider their promotions within a fortnight.

In five days the strike badly hit sanitation services in east Delhi with garbage not lifted from dhalaos or roads regularly leaving the commuters with an experience of obnoxious stink. Though east Delhi is known for poor sanitation services due to dense population, the end of the strike is a reason of hope that the services would slightly improve.

Mukesh Baidya, president of All Municipal Sanitation Supervisors' Union, said the strike was called off after a meeting where senior officials assured that promotions would be given to the deserving staff within a fortnight. In the civic bodies promotions are a rare thing, some of the sanitation staff who are nearing retirement have not been even a single promotion - though their salary scale increase with due course. It leaves the staff demotivated.

"Salaries of two months have been released to all sanitation inspectors and supervisors," said Baidya. Of the three months, now only one month salary is remaining. "We will resume work from Wednesday," he said. Around 300 supervisory level sanitation workers were on strike since Friday.

The EDMC was forced to pay attention to the strike of the supervisors even though sanitation workers, as the officials claimed, remained off the strike because recently Delhi high court rapped EDMC for poor sanitation services. Even after HC rap the situation has not significantly improved.

Even on main thoroughfares garbage can be found dumped by the roadside. No areas in east Delhi can boast of good sanitation services, even close to Vikas Marg garbage heaps were found during the strike. "We hope that the sanitation services would improve in east Delhi since the strike is over," said B S Vohra, president of east Delhi RWAs Joint Front said.

Mayor Neema Bhagat said that the sanitation supervisors were given the same promise on the second day of strike but they unnecessarily dragged the strike for five days. "After we decided to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against them they agreed for discussions," Bhagat said. Since the sanitation staff withdrew the strike EDMC also dropped its plan to invoke ESMA against them, she said.

Invocation of ESMA, legislated by the Parliament of India, can lead to termination of service of the protestors, even FIRs can be lodged against them.

with thanks : Times Of India : LINK

Sanitation workers strike in East Delhi : The Hindu - B S Vohra

Sanitation strike in East Delhi : Dainik Jagran : B S Vohra

Fight Against The Cancer Drive by AICHLS

The All India Council Of Human Rights Launched Nationwide Campaign For The Fight Against The Cancer On 15^th Feb 2017 At Amity University, Noida By Launching Its Poster By  H.E. Mr. Radu Octavian Dobre , Ambassador Of Romania, Ms. Adva Vilchinski, Political Affairs Advisor, Embassy of Israel, Mrs.Tsering Dolma, SOS TCV Youth Hostel, Mr. Jung- Director, International Youth Fellowship , Korea, Mrs. Lee Yang Suk ,Wife of  Mr. Jung and Dr.(Prof.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Anthony Raju , Global Chairman, All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties and Social Justice , Dr June Ann Chairperson ,Women Wing of AICHLS and Amnesty Worldwide Movement and Patron, AYF

ALL INDIA COUNCIL OF HUMAN RIGHTS,LIBERTIES & SOCIAL JUSTICE(AICHLS) is founded by Dr. Anthony Raju - Advocate , Supreme Court of India and a dynamic,dedicated , Internationally known HUMAN RIGHTS , PEACE ACTIVIST & SOCIAL WORKER and is one of India's foremost voices of Human Rights.

 

All India council of human rights, liberties & social justice Signatory and affiliated to UNITED NATION GLOBAL COMPACT . The world's largest corporate responsibility initiative with nearly 12,000 business and non-business participants in 140 countries.

 

It has several branches in India and abroad, having Thousands of dedicated volunteers. AICHLS is a social organization for the ignored, disregarded, over-looked, victimized, oppressed, depressed, tortured people of the society and it cultivates awareness in them with regard to their rights. AICHLS is a highly informative secured Human Rights Agency with full Legal status.

PR

ASEAN meet at New Delhi with Keynote address by EAM Sushma Swaraj

Asean India meet and Keynote address by EAM Sushma Swaraj with delegates from USA, Canada, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Nigeria etc.

Parking charges from residents ?

Respected Vohra  ji

Sir this is with reference to parking charges proposed by MCD. Will the MCD tell the people what facility they have given for Parking. The only Source of money  House Tax is not paid by many people they donot pay and wait for waiver scheme. Every Household has Electric Connection. They can collect data from the Electric Company and check with their record and send notice to all non payers and in this way more revenue will be generated. Stop Waiver Scheme as it encourages the people not to pay. 

with regards 

chander mohan 

east arjun nagar 

Delhi parking policy: Experts back changes but residents question ‘harsh’ steps

Hindustan Times

16.6.2017

The draft Parking Policy for Delhi has raised concerns among a section of residents in the Capital even as experts maintain that such “harsh steps” are necessary for public good.

The draft Parking Policy for Delhi has raised concerns among a section of residents in the Capital even as experts maintain that such “harsh steps” are necessary for public good.

Residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) HT spoke to questioned the policy’s rationale behind charging them for every car parked in residential areas. They collectively demanded that every household must be allowed free parking for at least one car.

“Why to charge for parking a car in front of one’s own house? At least one car must be allowed free of cost as one buys a vehicle for own use after paying a lot of taxes,” said BS Vohra of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

Other raised issues over the ‘one-time charge’ that every person has to pay for ‘night parking’ while getting a new vehicle registered. They complained that the MCD promised to augment parking lots with the revenue collected from this charge, but no concrete action .

“We are already being charged a decent amount as one-time parking fee. On top of that, if they want to charge extra as road tax and increase parking fees then the MCD must tell us what it has done so far to improve parking lots,” said Pankaj Aggarwal, general secretary of Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

Calling it a “misnomer”, Bhure Lal chairperson of the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) said that the one-time parking fee is a “meagre amount”. “The fee is Rs 2,000 for a lifetime which is awfully less for a car that not only causes so much traffic but also pollutes the air,” he said.

“The people themselves are the violators and the sufferers. Why do they then convert garages into rooms and shops?” he questioned.

Traders fear if the policy is implemented they would be worst hit. “We were charged a hefty ‘one-time parking fee’ after being told that parking facilities near commercial areas will be developed. Yet people have to park cars on roadsides,” said Sanjay Bhargava, a trader in Chandni Chowk.

However, MCD officials claim that they are constructing parking lots wherever land is available. “It is not true that we have not done anything. Whatever space we got we have developed them for parking like we did near 40 Metro stations,” said an official of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

The Parking Policy for Delhi proposes to charge more for daytime parking in residential areas and for peak hours in commercial areas. Besides, to discourage people from buying multiple cars, it says road tax would be increased on an incremental basis for those who buy more than one car.

“Around 2012, the Sheila Dikshit government had announced it would levy parking charges in residential areas. But that never happened. So it has to be seen what happens to this policy,” added Aggarwal.

Vohra suggested that the government must instead restrict the number of vehicles in a manner that one can buy a new vehicle only on surrendering the old one.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Parking policy ?

Dear Mr, Vohra ji,

As you are fully aware that the MCD since its trifurcation has become financially unsound and is unable to meet its duties and functions. Poor people like sweepers etc. are not being paid their legitimate salaries etc, but expect them to do their duties diligently. How can you expect the poor people who entirely depend on their wages based on the toil to meet their basic requirements like food, shelter etc. Why the MLAs and Councillors contribute their mite. sacrifice a little of their comforts or forego their luxuries for the time being to mop the resources of the MCD to enable them to pay their salaries! NO, we cannot expect as they are made people's representatives to make speeches and false promises but not to deliver the promises made and meet the requirements of poor people!

There are many ways to mop the resources of the MCD. One of them being the property tax. If the tax is collected on time i.e. by the end of April each year, hold camps for the purpose in all recognized colonies where the RWAs are only too willing to help and interest earned thereon could increase the balance in their coffers. It is learnt that not more than 60% owners are paying the property tax, what is the difficulty in arranging to collect from the rest by making all out efforts to do so! Secondly, I consider that this being the main source of income, apart from others, why not uniformally and periodically increase the rate of tax on a reasonable basis without giving any rebate to the tax payers. With the increase in the cost all round, this little sacrifice has to be done by all of us! This is my personal opinion. There is no harm in charging parking fee of a reasonable amount from the owners of vehicles, which are normally parked in the vacant spaces in front of their residential units by removing all encroachments, including kitchen gardens etc. uniformally without exception, restricting the number of vehicles that could accommodate within their premises, as otherwise they have to pay hefty amount, if they park their cars etc. at other places on a regular basis. This should be considered as an encroachment. A time has come that while approving colonies for residential accommodation, they do have enough parking space which should be depicted in the approved plan, failing which no permssion will be given, like in many other countries e.g. Japan, Singapore etc. We are having an acute shortage of space for the purpose of parking of vehicles. A time has come that we may have to sacrifice even parks, nursery plots etc. earmarked for the purpose to facilitate parking of cars, which are taking place unauthorizedly in many colonies. We have find ways and means which are feasible on an immediate basis to solve the problem, which is mounting up, creating law and order problem in colonies on a daily basis!

Of course morfe innovative suggestions could be made but they should be practical, feasible of adoption on an urgent basis and could be considered for adoption, even if necessary on a nominal payment!

With regards,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

Deterrence policy for Delhiites

Deterrence policy for Delhiites : Pay hefty sums for #parking your own #car, in front of your own #home, and with more money in the coffers, they will plan yet another #deterrence for you. 

It can be called deterrence, if it’s applicable to the buyers of new cars only.  How can they call it deterrence, if the existing car holders are made to pay hefty amounts, on the name of #parking ?

Under this policy, those who can afford, will be free to own multiple number of vehicles, with no care for the pollution and congestion, while those who can't afford, will have to suffer.

Don’t you think, that they are just trying to add to their coffers with nothing in mind for the general public.

Don't you think that Govt can do much more, and in a much better way, for the benefit of masses ?

Awaiting your comments. Thanks.

Despite ban, waste burning is the norm in east Delhi : HT

Bhaiya Ji Kahin : IBN7 : News India 18 : Panel Discussion : Power issue : B S Vohra

Quoted : HT : Power shortage issue : B S Vohra

UV Index at Extreme level now i.e. 11 plus. Stay indoors in the afternoon.

UV Index at Extreme level now i.e. 11 plus. Stay indoors in the afternoon. More details at : http://www.rwabhagidari.com/UVIndexNewDelhi.htm

GST: Traders body asks FM to lower rates for Horlicks, Complan, butter, sanitary napkins

Ahead of a crucial meeting of Centre and state ministers on goods and services tax (GST), traders’ body CAIT has urged finance minister Arun Jaitley to review the levy on food items including Bournvita, Horlicks, Complan, butter, ghee and sanitary napkins.

The GST Council, headed by Jaitley, will meet on Saturday to finalise the GST rates for some of the pending items before the country’s biggest tax reform is implemented from July 2017.

“Malt-based products like Bournvita, Horlicks, Complan, Boost and AmulPro and other similar products, which are consumed by children, have been placed at 28%. The GST Council should consider a lower rate for these items,” Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) secretary general Praveen Khandelwal told HT on phone.

In a letter to Jaitley, CAIT said the proposed tax rate on tractors and auto spares should be lowered for the interest of farmers.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

Spare parts traders protest 28% GST

NEW DELHI: Traders of Asia's largest spare parts market Kasmiri Gate on Monday protested against the 28% GST on car spare parts, tractor parts and car accessories. They said the hike was exorbitant and likely to affect the growth of their business.

Traders from Mori Gate who are engaged in tractor parts' business also participated in the protest and marched through the market. "Only 12% VAT is charged on auto parts and car accessories, which has been increased to 28%," said Vishnu Bhargava, general secretary of Automotive Parts Merchants' Associations.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.

GST rates for gold, garments, footwear out. Here’s how much you have to pay

The Centre finalised on Saturday goods and services tax (GST) rates for items such as gold, packaged food, biscuits, footwear and solar panels – besides some pending rules – paving the way for the country’s biggest tax reform from July 1.

The GST Council has tried to keep the tax rates low for most items because the Narendra Modi government wants to discourage inflation and nurture economic growth, which slipped to 7.1% in 2016-17 from 8% a year ago.

THE NEW FIGURES UNDER GST

• The new regime will have four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%
• Packaged food has been fixed at 5%, while biscuits will be taxed at 18%
• Gold will be taxed at 3% as against the current tax incidence of 2-6%
• Apparel costing below Rs 1,000 will be taxed at 5%
• Footwear below Rs 500 will be taxed at 5% while the rest would come in the 18% bracket.
• Beedi and beedi leaf will not attract a cess over and above the tax of 28%
• Most food items – including wheat, rice and milk excepted from the tax bracket
• Sugar, tea, coffee and edible oil, would attract 5% tax
• GST Council decided the tax rates for 1,200 goods and 500 services

The council will meet again on June 11 to complete all the processes required for a smooth rollout. The new regime will have four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%, with the intention of unifying the nation into a single market.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said the GST rates for packaged food has been fixed at 5%, while biscuits will be taxed at 18%. Gold will be taxed at 3% as against the current tax incidence of 2-6%, varying from state to state, while it will be 0.25% for rough diamonds.

“Gold currently has an excise rate of 1% and states charge 1% VAT... keeping these taxes in mind, and after a lot of debate in the GST Council, we have reached a consensus on 3% for gold and gold jewellery,” Jaitley told reporters after a meeting of the GST Council.

Silk and jute will be exempt, but cotton and natural fibre will be taxed at 5%, man-made fibres at 18%, and apparel costing below Rs 1,000 will be taxed at 5%. Footwear below Rs 500 will be taxed at 5% while the rest would come in the 18% bracket.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

GST makes India inhospitable, says tourism sector

Owners of hotels, restaurateurs and tourism-related facilities disappointed with high rates, say GST is unviable

The rates announced by the Goods and Services Tax Council on Friday has comes as a shocker to the hospitality industry. Four tax slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% have been fixed for services including telecom, insurance, hotels and restaurants.

Expressing disappointment, the hospitality sector said the rates are too complex, high and uncompetitive, and said they will be approaching Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma for a review of the rates. The GST Council announced that non-AC restaurants will charge 12% GST on food, AC restaurants and those with liquor licence 18% per cent, and five star hotels will charge a GST of 28%.

Dilip Datwani, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Western India (HRAWI) told The Hindu, “The government should realise that taxes in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia range between 5% and 10%. We cannot afford to have this complex and high-rate GST. This is simply not viable. Tourists will simply skip India.”

with thanks : The Hindu : LINK : for detailed news 

GST to make small cars and hybrids more expensive in India

With the announcement of the much anticipated Goods and Services Tax (GST), there has been mixed reactions from the automobile fraternity. And the reason for that is the varying tax structure imposed on different segment of vehicles sold in India.

The GST structure will be replacing the central excise duty and service taxes that are collected by the Central government. The segment that benefits from the newly announced GST structure are the large vehicles with a displacement greater than 1,500cc as well as SUVs with a length of more than 4 metres. This category of vehicles will attract 15 per cent cess over the peak rate of 28 per cent making it a total of 43 per cent. Presently, the central excise of 27 per cent is applied along with a value added tax (VAT) of 12.5 to 14.4 per cent. In addition to these taxes, there is also state taxes, octroi and infrastructure cess that is levied. The total tally of these taxes goes to up to 45 per cent.

The new GST structure has also brought hybrid cars under the same slab as that of large vehicles meaning a tax of 43 per cent will be levied on them. However, electric cars will attract a tax of 12 per cent. This has been seen as an unfair decision in favor of hybrids stated some in the industry. Hybrid cars employ cleaner and more efficient technology when compared to the conventional petrol and diesel powered vehicles.

With thanks : OverDrive : LINK : for detailed news.

Kamal Haasan protests 28% GST rate, threatens to quit films if not reduced

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has joined the film industry's protest against the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 28 per cent. The actor lashed out at the Centre and sought a lower tax slab for the entertainment industry.

ANI reports that the actor held a press conference on Friday, where he said, "When it comes to the pride of India, it was always regional cinema that stood up for awards in international arenas. Regional cinema contributes to the might of the country. You can't reduce that through taxation."

With thanks : India Today : LINK : for detailed news.

IMMORAL POLITICAL SAVAGERY - HOUSE OF CARDS : SEASON 5 : EPISODE 1 : REVIEW

“Frank Underwood is coming to India with the television premiere of House Of Cards Season 5 on Saturday, 3rd June, 5 PM onwards, only on Zee Café!”

A review of the political series, "Home Coming of Terror", a tale of a pragmatic principal character who is freaking obsessed to achieve the zenith of success even by embracing immoral means. The scene commences, where a journalist is killed, while Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), try to manipulate the attack to quench the thirst of his narcissistic lust.  

In a broaden horizon, it begins with a telecast, where Claire is saying, “You have nothing to be Afraid of. We are here to protect you”.  She continues, “There’s a lot of noise out there, a noisy press that’s choosing to dwell on the past instead of what’s happening right now,”. But as soon as the story succeeds, it is revealed, that it was the deliberate recording of an election telecast.

The scene shifts to the American Congress, where a senate wants a debate on the actions of the President and his declaration of war on terror. But the reply he gets from the Frank was, “ I am on my way to the funeral of an American patriot. A good man. A husband. A father who was beheaded on American soil. And this chamber chooses to debate me.”

Even though the creator of the series, Beau Willimon is no more connected with the series, the first episode of the, House of Cards,  season 5, still looks as smart as earlier. It shows the President of the United States of America, as a strong and angry person, with no regard to the political values. The show almost matches with the working style of Donald Trump, the existing president of America.

Frank tries to overcome the growing popularity of his Republican rival Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman), and manipulates the situation, by waging a war against the terrorist organization ICO / ISIS, with the sole aim of creating fear in the general public so that he could retain his presidency in the coming elections.

It is a manipulative story of Frank Underwood's political passion and his longing to conquer presidency at any cost, alike Donald Trump. Deceitful traits of his inner self has caught the centre of attraction. He is truly an opportunity seeker, and much more concerned with his own reelection as the President. He notably exploits the issue of the insecurity of the people, in his own favour, just to repossess his popularity as well to keep on holding the power.

“Frank Underwood is coming to India with the television premiere of House Of Cards Season 5 on Saturday, 3rd June, 5 PM onwards, only on Zee Café!” You can view more details about the new series at  https://www.facebook.com/ZeeCafe.  #HOConZCafe