As the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms came into effect on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation through a letter, calling on citizens to embrace Swadeshi and support “Made in India” products during the festive season. His message coincided with the first day of Navratri and the official rollout of the simplified GST rate structure.

In his letter, PM Modi encouraged both buyers and sellers to prioritize Indian-made goods, stressing that every purchase of a Swadeshi product supports Indian artisans, workers, and small industries. “This festive season, let us resolve to support products that are Made in India,” he wrote. “This means buying Swadeshi products that have the sweat and toil of an Indian involved in their making, irrespective of the brand or the company that makes them.”

He further appealed to shopkeepers and traders across the country to stock and promote Indian-made goods. “Let us proudly say – what we buy is Swadeshi. Let us proudly say – what we sell is Swadeshi,” the letter stated, reinforcing the government’s ongoing push for economic self-reliance and support for local industries.

Highlighting the broader economic reforms under GST, the Prime Minister said the new tax regime is designed to benefit every segment of society—from farmers and women to traders, MSMEs, and the middle class. The revised GST structure has consolidated the previous four-tier system into a simplified two-rate format of 18% and 5%.

“Daily essentials such as food, medicines, soap, toothpaste, insurance and many more items will now either be tax-free or fall in the lowest 5% tax slab,” Modi wrote. He noted that items previously taxed at 12% have largely been brought down to the 5% category.

Praising the positive response from the business community, Modi said, “It is greatly heartening to see various shopkeepers and traders putting up ‘then and now’ boards showing tax rates before and after the reforms.”

The government believes the reforms will not only make taxation simpler but also boost consumer savings and improve the ease of doing business across India.