PM Modi to address nation at 5 PM today
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation at 5 p.m. on Sunday, sources said, amid widespread speculation that his message will focus on the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 reforms, set to take effect on Monday, September 22.
While the exact subjects of the address have not been officially confirmed, the timing is significant, coming just a day before the next-generation GST reforms are implemented. Many observers expect that the Prime Minister will use the opportunity to explain the new tax structure and its benefits for citizens and businesses alike.
On August 15, during his address from the Red Fort, PM Modi had announced that the government would introduce next-generation GST reforms by Diwali. He described the move as a “Diwali gift” for households, aimed at reducing the tax burden on essential items and providing direct relief to citizens while boosting economic activity.
“The government will bring Next Generation GST reforms, which will bring down the tax burden on the common man. It will be a Diwali gift for you,” PM Modi had said, emphasising that the reforms are designed to benefit ordinary citizens and foster growth in the economy.
On September 4, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that the GST Council had approved the new reform package. She highlighted that the changes would ease compliance for ordinary citizens while also creating a more business-friendly environment for traders and entrepreneurs, particularly small businesses.
The GST Council’s decision includes reducing taxes on a wide range of items, from packaged foods to consumer electronics, moving the indirect tax regime closer to a simplified two-rate structure. The reforms are expected to make the tax system more straightforward and stimulate demand across sectors.
Apart from GST reforms, speculation persists that PM Modi may touch upon other pressing issues, including the recent crackdown in the United States on H-1B visa holders, which affects a significant number of Indian professionals in the American tech sector, and India’s ongoing tariff disputes with Washington.
He may also reiterate the government’s call to promote ‘Swadeshi’ products and strengthen the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
The Prime Minister’s previous address to the nation was on May 12, when he briefed citizens on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory action following the terror attack in Pahalgam.
With IANS inputs