GST Council Brings Relief on Stationery Items: Key Rate Changes
Announced
The 56th meeting of
the GST Council, chaired by Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt.
Nirmala Sitharaman, was held on 3rd September 2025 at Sushma Swaraj
Bhavan, New Delhi. The Council made several recommendations aimed at
rationalising GST rates and providing relief to the common man. A major
highlight was the reduction and exemption of GST on a range of stationery
items, directly benefiting students, parents, and the education sector.
GST Rate Changes –
Education Sector
(A) From 5% to Nil
|
S.
No.
|
Chapter
/ Heading / Tariff Item
|
Description
of Goods
|
|
1
|
4016
|
Erasers
|
(B) From 12% to Nil
|
S.
No.
|
Chapter
/ Heading / Tariff Item
|
Description
of Goods
|
|
1
|
4905
|
Maps
and hydrographic or similar charts of all kinds, including atlases, wall
maps, topographical plans and globes, printed
|
|
2
|
8214
|
Pencil
sharpeners
|
|
3
|
9608,
9609
|
Pencils
(including propelling or sliding pencils), crayons, pastels, drawing
charcoals and tailor’s chalk
|
|
4
|
4820
|
Exercise
book, graph book, laboratory note book and notebooks
|
(C) From 12% to 5%
|
S.
No.
|
Chapter
/ Heading / Tariff Item
|
Description
of Goods
|
|
1
|
7310
or 7326
|
Mathematical
boxes, geometry boxes and colour boxes
|
Impact on Consumers and
Education Sector
The decision to reduce
and exempt GST on essential stationery items is expected to:
- Lower the cost of basic learning
materials, easing the financial burden on
students and households.
- Benefit schools, colleges, and
coaching institutions by reducing procurement costs of commonly used
supplies.
- Encourage wider access to quality
education by making fundamental learning tools more affordable.
This rationalisation
aligns with the government’s broader vision of supporting the aspirational
middle class and promoting education affordability.
Conclusion
The GST Council’s
decision to reduce tax rates on stationery items represents a significant step
towards making education-related expenses lighter for families. With erasers,
pencils, sharpeners, crayons, maps, and notebooks becoming tax-free, and geometry
sets now available at a reduced tax rate of 5%, the reform is set to benefit
millions of students across the country.
The new rates, effective
from 22nd September 2025, mark an important reform in India’s GST
framework, ensuring essential educational supplies are more accessible and
affordable.
Disclaimer: All the Information is based on the notification, circular advisory and order issued by the Govt. authority and judgement delivered by the court or the authority information is strictly for educational purposes and on the basis of our best understanding of laws & not binding on anyone.
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