India, Aug. 25 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for the most ambitious Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform since its launch in 2017 is not merely an economic adjustment. It is a consumer-first gambit aimed at cooling inflation at home, boosting middle-class purchasing power, and signaling to global partners that India remains committed to structural reforms despite fiscal stress. By lowering levies on everyday essentials, small cars, and household durables, Modi seeks to deliver immediate relief to families while recalibrating India's trade and growth posture in a turbulent global economy - particularly in the wake of former US President Donald Trump's tariff squeeze on Indian exports.
The move carries a dual purpose. Economically, i...