Govt Notifies GST Exemption List: Over 170 Items Made Tax-Free from Sept 22
The Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) has recently issued an official notification No. 10/2025-Central Tax (Rate), dated September 17, 2025. This notification replaces an earlier notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 02/2017-Central Tax (Rate), dated June 28, 2017. However, things already done in the notification will remain unchanged. The revised notification provides a fresh list of goods that will not attract GST (0% tax rate). The new exemptions are scheduled to take effect on September 22, 2025.
The Government is satisfied that these changes are necessary to be implemented in the public interest and has made these changes in exercise of powers granted under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017), on the recommendations of the Council.
The government, after the 56th GST Council’s recommendation, had decided that some goods commonly used by people (mainly essential goods, food, natural products, medicines, daily-use items, cultural items, and certain government supplies) will attract NIL GST (zero) at all.
This move is aimed at reducing the tax burden on common people on essential daily-use items, traditional goods, medicines, and cultural products. By exempting GST on such items, the government is trying to ensure that the cost of living remains affordable and that farmers, students, patients, and common households benefit directly.
Goods listed in the schedule attached to the notification are completely exempt from GST when supplied within a state (intra-state). It is a comprehensive list of items covering more than 170 categories of goods, mainly essential items. Some major groups include:
- Agricultural and Food Items
- Live animals (cows, goats, poultry, fish, etc.)
- Fresh, chilled, or dried vegetables and fruits (potatoes, onions, bananas, apples, etc.)
- Fresh milk, curd, lassi, paneer, eggs, and honey (non-packaged)
- Rice, wheat, pulses, cereals, jaggery, flour, puffed rice, papad, khakhra, roti, and bread
- Tender coconut water (non-packaged)
- Cattle feed, poultry feed, aquatic feed, husk, and oil cakes
- Health and Medicines
- Human blood and its components
- All types of contraceptives, sanitary napkins, tampons, and condoms
- Hearing aids and parts for hearing aids
- Special life-saving drugs listed in Annexure I (like gene therapy medicines, rare disease drugs, cancer drugs, etc.)
- Cultural, Religious, and Traditional Items
- Puja samagri (rudraksha, tulsi mala, chandan tika, wick for diya, etc.)
- Religious prasadam from temples, mosques, gurudwaras, etc.
- Indian National Flag
- Clay lamps, idols, khadi fabric, Gandhi topi
- Handmade musical instruments (listed in Annexure II)
- Other Essential Goods
- Salt, jaggery, municipal waste, firewood, charcoal
- Exercise books, children’s books, newspapers, maps
- Stamp papers, currency notes, coins
- Plastic bangles, glass bangles, wooden or stone deities
- Agricultural implements, charkha, handloom machinery
- Passenger baggage
Refer to the official Notification for complete information.
