GST Council has decided to exempt cancer-fighting drugs, medicines for rare diseases, and food products for special medical purposes from GST tax. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today chaired the 50th GST Council meeting in New Delhi. Addressing the media after the meeting, the Minister said 28 percent tax will be levied on online gaming, horse racing, and casinos and these will be taxed at full face value. She said the Council has also decided to exempt GST from satellite launch services by private operators.

GST rates on uncooked, unfried extruded snack pallets have been brought down from 18 percent to 5 percent. The rates on fish soluble paste have been bright down to 5 percent from 18 percent. Rates on imitation zari threads have been brought down to 5 percent from 12 percent.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Finance Ministers of States and UTs, and senior officials. On this occasion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released a special cover and customized myStamp.