The 57th GST Council meeting has been rescheduled for 7 October in New Delhi, with discussions likely to centre on the impact of recent rate rationalisations and potential sector-specific adjustments, notably on mobile phone GST rates amidst weakening demand.
The 57th GST Council meeting will now take place in New Delhi on 7 October, after being moved from 12 September because of a clash with the BRICS Summit, according to Livemint. Preparatory meetings of officers are expected on 5 and 6 October before ministers gather for the main session. The change in date gives the Council more time to assess how the indirect tax system has performed over the past year and to set the tone for the next phase of review.
Business Today reported that the Council is likely to begin by examining the effects of the GST rate rationalisation introduced on 22 September 2025. With collections still holding up, policymakers are expected to focus on the impact on revenues, consumption and state finances before entertaining any wider reduction in rates. That makes a broad-based cut in October look unlikely, even though the meeting could still produce narrower sector-specific decisions.
One area drawing attention is mobile phones. Business Today said officials may review the 18% GST rate on handsets, reflecting weaker demand in the market. Livemint also reported that a possible cut is under discussion. A study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy has found mixed evidence on how GST reductions pass through to retail prices, suggesting that lower tax rates do not always translate neatly into cheaper goods for consumers.
Beyond rates, the Council is also expected to revisit technical and compliance issues, including input tax credit, registration, refunds, dispute resolution and the inverted duty structure, according to Business Today, Siasat and eFileTax. That broader agenda suggests the October meeting may be less about dramatic cuts and more about testing whether the current framework is working as intended after a year of reform.
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