NEW DELHI: The Indian shooting fraternity, which had been protesting the high slabs of Goods and Services Tax (GST), has expressed satisfaction at the Indian government’s decision to exempt imported sports equipment from the ambit of GST.
The National Rifle Association of India, which had spearheaded the movement against the 28 per cent tax on imported sports equipment, has called the move “fair and progressive”.
On Saturday, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the government’s decision to exempt imported sports goods of specific nature from the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) ambit will be a big boost for the country’s sportspersons of “outstanding eminence”, says a PTI report.
In August this year, NRAI president Raninder Singh had written to the finance ministry asking for a review of imposition of GST on sports equipment.
NRAI president Raninder Singh thanked all those who backed the move, including Rathore, the Finance Ministry and NRAI vice-president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, who ran a prolonged campaign to remove GST on sporting equipment.
“Finally, NRAI also takes this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Finance & the GST Council of India in arriving at this fair, just, & progressive decision,” the shooting federation said in a statement.
Olympic Bronze medallist Gagan Narang tweeted, “The move to cut down GST on import of equipment will immensely help sports people like us in procuring our guns and ammunition. Thank you @narendramodi @arunjaitley @Ra_THORe @Media_SAI.
