GST 2.0 REFORMS FOR A NEW GENERATION: LIGHTER ON THE POCKET, BRIGHTER FOR THE FUTURE

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 reforms, introduced in 2025, represent a watershed in indirect taxation, aiming to simplify the regime, enhance affordability, and promote inclusive economic growth. By rationalizing tax rates across multiple sectors—ranging from agriculture and MSMEs to education, healthcare, and technology—the reforms shift India’s fiscal architecture toward a pro-consumer, pro-youth model. This article evaluates GST 2.0 from an applied economic perspective, analysing its structural, sectoral, and welfare impacts. It situates the reform within the broader macroeconomic goals of fiscal consolidation, growth stimulation, and the “Swarna Andhra 2047” vision, emphasizing how a simplified tax structure can catalyse household welfare, entrepreneurial dynamism, and sustainable development. Keywords: GST 2.0, Rural Economy, MSMEs, Manufacturing, Human Capital Development, Sectoral Impact