<h1>Chief minister hails GST overhaul: two main rate slabs, faster refunds, simpler compliance to boost households, MSMEs, exporters</h1> A state chief minister praised central government GST reforms that restructure rates into two primary slabs (5% and 18%), reportedly exempting or taxing essentials at 0-5% and imposing up to 40% on luxury goods, and announced administrative changes including faster refunds, simplified compliance and registration, and greater transparency intended to aid households, MSMEs, exporters and investment. Business representatives and education-sector figures welcomed anticipated boosts to consumption, entrepreneurship and job creation. An opposition leader criticized the reforms as corrective but accused the prior regime of overtaxation, inflationary effects and harm to vulnerable groups. The measures signal significant tax-policy and compliance shifts with broad economic and legal implications.