Bringing about a major change in the rates of goods and services taxes, the GST council today lowered the tax levels on 66 articles. Briefing the mediapersons after GST council meet, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "A total of 133 representations had been received and were considered at length. Some items were historically charged at higher rate but today their tax rates need to be lowered." "The GST council has revised tax levels on 66 out of 133 representations," Arun Jaitley said adding that the ext meeting of the council would be held next Sunday. The changes made in the tax levels of several articles by the GST council include:GST on cashew nuts reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per centGST on pickles, chutney, sauces, instant food mixes were charged at 18 per cent and are now reduced to 12 per centGST on kajal slashed from 28 per cent to 18 per centGST on insulin reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per centGST on school bags reduced from 28 per cent to 18 per centGST on children's colouring and drawing books revised from 12 per cent to nilGST on cutlery reduced from 18 per cent to 12 per centGST on some tractor components will now attract 18 per cent compared to 28 per cent under previous arrangementGST on computer printers reduced from 28 per cent to 18 per centGST rate of 28 per cent will be maintained for all cinema tickets above Rs 100 while for tickets below Rs 100, it will be reduced to 18 per centAlso read: Subramanian Swamy fears GST could be Narendra Modi's Waterloo: A fact checkWATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Source: India Today June 11, 2017 10:28 UTC