<h1>Cutting GST on beedis to 18% while other tobacco taxed 40% risks higher use among low-income groups</h1> The government's reduction of GST on beedis from 28% to 18% while other tobacco products remain taxed at 40% has prompted health experts to warn of legal and policy ramifications: the tax disparity may increase affordability and consumption among low-income groups, undermining statutory public-health objectives and India's obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Experts urge a policy reversal to restore uniform, higher taxation across all tobacco products to deter use, protect vulnerable populations, reduce healthcare costs, and align tax policy with international recommendations that taxes comprise a substantial share of retail tobacco prices.