No GST on Gangajal, CBIC refute reports

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs on Thursday issued a clarification stating that no Goods and Services Tax (GST) is imposed on Gangajal and other puja items, in its official handle on social media platform X.

The clarifications came after certain media reports that the centre has imposed 18% GST on Gangajal, which was flagged further by the opposition parties and triggered war of words between congress and the ruling BJP.

“Gangajal used in puja by households across the country and puja samagri is exempt under GST. GST on puja samagri was discussed in detail in the 14th and 15th meetings of the GST Council held in 2017 and decided to keep them in the exempt list. Therefore, all these items have been exempt since the introduction of GST," it said in its social media post on X.


As per the information mentioned, other puja items like kajal, kumkum, bindis, sindoo, alta, plastic, etc are also exempted from GST.