ICEA’s Mohindroo seeks 5% GST, says mobile production declines to 22-crore units

NEW DELHI: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) levied on mobile handsets in India should be brought down to 5%, while the volume of units manufactured domestically is reduced to 22 crores (220 million), an industry group executive said Thursday.

‘Mobile phones should have been at a 5% GST. We had a benchmark of 12%. Today, it is 18%. This is a major task to drive affordability,’ Pankaj Mohindroo, president, India Cellular & Electronics Association (Icea) said, adding that smartphone production volume has come down to 22 crores, from 30 crores units previously.