Gujarat Govt Reduces VAT On CNG, PNG By 10%, Announces Two Free Cylinders Ahead Of Polls

The decision to provide free cylinders to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will benefit around 38 lakh people across Gujarat.

Gujarat government on Monday announced two free cooking gas cylinders per year

Source : Getty

Ahead of Diwali and Assembly election, the Gujarat government on Monday announced two free cooking gas cylinders to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and also reduced value added tax (VAT) on compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) by 10 per cent, news agency ANI reported. 

VAT (value-added tax) on CNG & PNG reduced by Gujarat government by 10%, announces Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2022

Consumers are expected to save Rs 6 to 7 per kg due to the lowering of VAT on CNG, while PNG consumers will save Rs 5 to 6 per kg, ABP News reported. 

"By providing relief in CNG and PNG, the government will bear a burden of Rs 300 crore. Aside from that, the LPG relief will cost the government a total of Rs. 1650 crore," a government official told ABP News. 

The decision to provide free cylinders will benefit around 38 lakh people across the state. Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani said the decision had been taken keeping in mind that Gujarat had nearly 38 lakh housewives. 

The Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held by the end of this year.

The dates for the Himachal Pradesh elections have already been announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI), and the dates for the Gujarat assembly elections could be announced any day now.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi announced the 12th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. A total of Rs 2,000 has been deposited in the accounts of the country's eight crore farmers.

The central government has spent 16,000 crore on the 12th instalment.

"Under PM Kisan the 12th installment worth Rs 16,000 crores has been sent to farmers across India. Under 'One nation one fertiliser', farmers will be provided with cheaper and good quality fertiliser": PM Modi said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister established 600 Kisan Samridhi Kendras through the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. He also gave advice to youth and agricultural scientists to promote agriculture startups.

During the event, the Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana — One Nation One Fertilizer. Speaking about the initiative, he stated that farmers will receive low-cost, high-quality crop nutrients through the 'One Nation, One Fertilizer' scheme, which was launched today.

PM Modi also unveiled Bharat urea bags, which will help companies market fertilisers under the single brand name 'Bharat.'

He emphasised that India will have only one brand, uniform quality of urea under the brand name Bharat in 'One nation, One fertiliser,' as he mentioned that different brands confused farmers about the quality of urea that they were purchasing.