Finance Minister Responds to 18% GST Protest

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed demands from opposition leaders to remove the 18% GST on health and life insurance premiums, emphasizing that this tax existed before GST and is shared equally between the Centre and states. Opposition members staged protests, citing that the tax burdens the middle class and restricts industry growth, with support from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who also called for the tax's removal. Sitharaman clarified that any changes to GST must be decided by the GST Council, not unilaterally by Parliament. The government noted that certain insurance schemes for poor and differently-abled individuals are exempt from GST. Despite the protests, the Finance Minister stated that the proposed amendment to remove the tax cannot be introduced in Parliament.