Impact of GST reforms visible as festive sales break 10-year record: Experts

New Delhi – The government’s **Next Gen GST reforms** are beginning to make a visible impact on India’s economy, with experts noting that the ongoing **festive season has recorded the highest sales in a decade**, particularly in the **automobile sector**.

Tax and finance expert **Vinod Rawal** said that the benefits of the new GST system are now evident on the ground.

“The festive season has just started, and in the first few days of Navratri — when around 45 per cent of annual festive sales usually happen — the 10-year record has already been broken,” Rawal told **IANS**.

He highlighted the surge in vehicle deliveries and sales across major automakers:

* **Maruti Suzuki** delivered **1,65,000 cars**,
* **Mahindra & Mahindra** saw a **60 per cent increase** in sales compared to last year,
* **Hyundai** captured a **72 per cent share** in the SUV segment, and
* **Tata Motors** sold **50,000 vehicles** during the period.

According to Rawal, the **“One Nation, One Tax”** vision of GST is finally being realized, as the new format simplifies the tax structure by **removing cess** and **integrating rates** directly into the main system.

“When refunds are processed quickly, their impact is felt immediately in the market. This reform is clearly driving momentum,” he explained, adding that the effects of the Next Gen GST are already visible rather than being a distant expectation.

Echoing the sentiment, **Arun Malhotra**, auto industry expert and former **Managing Director of Nissan India Pvt. Ltd.**, said the reforms have given a **major boost to the automobile sector**.

“Prices of nearly 95 per cent of vehicles have fallen by **8–10 per cent**. Since the start of the festive season on the first Navratri, we’ve seen a significant surge in demand — fueled by reduced prices and attractive festive offers,” Malhotra noted.

Experts agree that the **Next Gen GST reforms** have not only **simplified India’s taxation system** but also **restored consumer confidence**, paving the way for a stronger festive season and a more robust **economic outlook** in the months ahead.

With inputs from IANS