<h1>Finance minister urges GST rate rationalisation with robust compensation to protect states' fiscal autonomy and welfare duties</h1> A state finance minister urged that proposed GST rate rationalisation must include a robust compensation mechanism to prevent fiscal instability and protect states' fiscal autonomy, arguing rate cuts without revenue replacement would violate revenue-neutrality principles underlying GST. He reported substantial revenue losses to his state and a shortfall from earlier compensation, and said affected states collectively recommend an additional levy on sin and luxury goods with proceeds fully transferred to states to offset fiscal stress. He warned insufficient revenue stabilisation would impede states' constitutional welfare duties and reiterated a request for central disaster assistance.