Many trdaers, professionals and others have welcomed the decisions announced at the 57th GST Council Meeting. The Nagpur Chamber of Commerce Ltd (NCCL) has welcomed several important decisions taken in the 57th meeting of the GST Council in the interest of traders and businesses. According to the chamber, many important demands raised by it from time to time regarding the practical difficulties faced by traders have been accepted by the GST Council. These decisions are expected to provide significant relief to traders, small businesses and honest taxpayers. NCCL President Pradeep Jajoo said that the chamber has been consistently demanding simpler

 

GST compliance, faster refunds, protection of Input Tax Credit (ITC), reduction in unnecessary scrutiny and easier procedures for traders. A substantial part of these demands has been addressed in the decisions taken by the 57th GST Council. Former President of NCCL CA Kailash Jogani said that main focus of the council was on making the GST system simpler, more transparent and business-friendly. Reacting to reports that the implementation of the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 may be deferred from 15 October 2026 to 1 January 2027, Dr Dipen Agrawal, President of Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry & Trade (CAMIT), stated: “If the Government decides to defer the implementation of MDR charges, it would be a welcome step, offering relief to crores of traders and MSMEs across the country. However, official confirmation is still awaited.” The moment the proposal announced, CAMIT promptly and effectively raised the concerns of the trading community before the Central and State Governments.

 

“Our stand has been clear and consistent: the very traders who played a pivotal role in popularising UPI and making Digital India a success should not be burdened with additional costs for accepting digital payments,” Agrawal said. “A three-month reprieve may be welcome, but our demand is the permanent continuation of the Zero-MDR regime,” he added. The Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) has wholeheartedly welcomed the latest decisions of the GST Council under GST 2.0, describing them as progressive, taxpayer-friendly and much-needed reforms towards simplifying India's taxation system and improving the ease of doing business. VTA expressed its sincere gratitude to the GST Council for its efforts in rationalising GST provisions, easing compliance requirements, facilitating faster refunds and reducing unnecessary legal complications.

 

VTA President Shrawan Kumar Malu said the GST reforms are a welcome step towards creating a simpler, more transparent and business-friendly taxation system. VTA Secretary Tejinder Singh Renu appreciated the GST Council’s emphasis on decriminalisation, rationalisation of prosecution provisions, simplified procedures and faster refunds. “While deliberate tax evasion must be dealt with firmly, genuine procedural mistakes and minor compliance lapses should not expose honest businesses to disproportionate penalties, prosecution or harassment,” Renu stated. He suggested that the Government should introduce a special recognition and privilege framework for consistently compliant taxpayers, offering benefits such as priority services, faster refunds, simplified scrutiny procedures, dedicated grievance redressal and recognition certificates.