SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Finance | Government of Uttar Pradesh | GST Council
The latest GST rationalisation delivers sweeping relief across Uttar Pradesh’s artisan, MSME, and industrial clusters. Bhadohi carpets, Moradabad brassware, Saharanpur woodcraft, Lucknow Chikan, and Varanasi Zardozi are now 6–7% cheaper, directly sustaining lakhs of artisan livelihoods. The cuts extend to Firozabad glassware, Khurja ceramics, and Gorakhpur terracotta, helping fragile clusters stabilise ahead of festive demand.
The Kanpur–Agra leather and footwear hubs, which employ nearly 1.5 million workers, benefit from GST on goods under ₹2,500 cut to 5%, boosting MSME competitiveness and exports. Agra marble inlay, handmade paper, and eco-friendly stationery clusters also gain, supporting women artisans and SHGs.
On the industrial side, cement tax lowered from 28% to 18% is expected to reduce housing and infrastructure costs, while Meerut’s sports goods industry and ODOP-recognised clusters gain competitiveness in both domestic and overseas markets.
For India’s largest state, GST cuts act as a combined stimulus for heritage crafts, rural livelihoods, MSMEs, and large-scale industries. By easing working-capital stress and improving affordability, the reforms align with ODOP promotion, export diversification, and the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
What is ODOP? → The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme identifies and promotes a unique product from each district, boosting branding, skill support, and market access.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can Uttar Pradesh integrate GST-led cost relief with ODOP branding, e-commerce, and global marketing to transform artisan and MSME clusters into sustained export powerhouses?
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