India Marks Nine Years of GST Implementation

### Why in News? - India completed **nine years of Goods and Services Tax (GST)** implementation on **July 1, 2026**. ### Key Details - GST was introduced on **July 1, 2017** and subsumed multiple Central and State indirect taxes into a common framework. - The number of registered taxpayers rose from **66.5 lakh in 2017** to **1.65 crore by May 2026**, while gross collections reached about **₹22.27 lakh crore in FY 2025-26**. - The **Next-Generation GST reforms**, effective from **September 22, 2025**, moved the structure primarily to **5% and 18% slabs**. ### Exam Connect - **GST Council** → Key federal decision-making body for GST rates and rules. - **GST** → Destination-based indirect tax on the supply of goods and services.