TG merchants demand rollback of 18% GST on paper to 5%

Hyderabad: The Telangana Paper Merchants’ Association (TPMA) has called on the government to roll back the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on paper and boards from 18 per cent to 5 per cent, arguing that the higher tax rate disproportionately burdens education, sustainability, and essential industries. Addressing media here, TPMA President Abhishek Vijayawargi, Secretary Ashish Jain Bhansali, Past President T Kishan Singh, and Federation of Paper Traders Associations of India (FPTA) Vice President Nirmal Kuhad highlighted the wide-ranging negative impact of the current GST structure.

Paper is a daily essential for students, teachers, publishers, and exam systems. The Association pointed out that a basic price of Rs70 per kg rises to Rs82.60 with 18 per cent GST, compared with Rs73.50 at 5 per cent. Students preparing for competitive exams consume 250–300 kg of paper per term, making education more expensive for 24 crore children and youth across India. Contradictions were also flagged in the government’s push for eco-friendly products. While 71 per cent of paper is produced from recycled waste, with only 8 per cent made from fresh pulp, finished paper is taxed at 18 per cent while wastepaper is taxed at just 5 per cent. Paper bags, promoted as a sustainable alternative to plastic, also attract 18 per cent GST, making them costlier than harmful substitutes.