GST 2.0 and Consumer Welfare: Assessing the Affordability Dividend

This study examines the implications of India's GST 2.0 reform, a sweeping revision of the Goods and Services Tax structure, for consumer welfare and affordability. Through an examination of policy initiatives, sectoral effects, macroeconomic outcomes, and stakeholder viewpoints, it assesses the extent to which the reform advances public well-being. The analysis integrates evidence from a wide range of credible media and institutional sources, including leading international and national news outlets (e.g., Reuters, the Times of India, and the Financial Times), official government communications, and authoritative reports from think tanks and financial institutions (such as SBI and Axis), thereby ensuring rigor and reliability. The findings suggest that GST 2.0 marks a strategic shift beyond simple procedural efficiency to an inclusive, consumption-oriented economic paradigm. When implemented equitably, supported by transparent federal measures, and combined with effective corporate accountability, it has the potential to become a milestone in India’s economic development. If sustained over time, this reform promises more than immediate relief; it will lay the foundation for lasting, demand-driven resilience