Electronics and mobile manufacturers urge to place mobile phones as essential goods under 5% GST slab

NEW DELHI: India’s mobile and electronics manufacturers have urged the government to place mobile phones and their components in the 5% GST slab reserved for essential goods. The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents the industry, stressed that the current 18% GST on mobile phones is regressive. It argued that mobile phones—the primary tool of digital access for over 90 crore Indians—must be treated as necessities in the forthcoming GST reforms.