The GST Reform India Needs but Didn’t Get with Arbind Modi

In this episode, economic journalist and author Puja Mehra speaks to Arbind Modi, retired IRS officer and Senior Economist at the IMF and one of the chief architects of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST), about what India’s broken tax system means for its growth ambitions. The conversation explores how GST’s design flaws have hurt competitiveness, why exempting large sections of income undermines fairness, and how Centre–State revenue sharing has created new fiscal strains.

The discussion connects India’s tax choices to global shifts, from the Trump-era trade wars to the reordering of supply chains, making clear that without serious reform, India risks missing yet another growth opportunity.

Tune in for insights on what it will take to reset India’s tax system, revive competitiveness, and lay the foundation for sustained 8% growth. This episode is both a masterclass in India’s tax system and a call for bold, evidence-driven policymaking.

(00:00) Introduction

(02:15) Why GST Hasn’t Delivered on Its Promise

(07:42) Fixing GST Design and Efficiency

(12:30) The Problem with GST Rates and Complexity

(16:58) Corporate Tax Cuts and Their Consequences

(21:47) Why Income Tax Exemptions Are a Mistake

(27:15) The Centre–State Revenue Sharing Dilemma

(32:44) The Case for Comprehensive Tax Reform

(38:52) How GST Reform Could Unlock Higher Growth

(46:10) Why Political Will Matters More Than Bureaucratic Hesitation

(51:21) Decluttering GST and Fixing Excise Duties

(55:23) Why Taxing Gold Jewellery Hurts the Poor

(59:26) Conclusion

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