<h1>GST Council Cuts Rates on Essentials; Section 171 Ensures Benefits Reach Consumers Through Price Reductions.</h1> The GST Council, consisting of Central and State Government representatives, set GST rates for goods and services considering pre-GST indirect tax incidences. These rates, aimed at revenue-neutrality, have reduced the tax burden on items like food grains, milk, eggs, sugar, vegetable oils, and spices compared to the pre-GST era. Section 171 of the Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 mandates that tax reductions or input tax credit benefits be passed to consumers through price cuts. Businesses have responded by lowering prices, as reported in newspapers, enhancing consumer benefits. This information was shared by the Minister of State for Finance in the Lok Sabha.