It has been held by the critics of the GST regime that indirect tax rates have gone up like anything since the onset of GST in 2017. Addressing the criticism in Parliament, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the tax on household items before GST was far higher.

"Tooth powder attracted a 17% tax before pre-GST, while it is 12% now. Hair oil used to attract a 29.3% tax, while it is 18% now. Toothpaste used to attract a 29.3% rate compared to 18% now. And soaps used to attract 29.3% GST versus 18% now," she said.

"All States at the 47th GST Council meeting agreed to the proposal to levy 5% GST on pre-packed, labelled food items and not one person spoke against it," she said, addressing the criticism that the Modi government has been deciding GST rates unilaterally.

The price of Jan Aushadhi medicines is cheaper at least by 50% and in some cases by 80%-90% of the marked market price of branded medicines, the FM stated, talking about the NDA government's efforts to make medicines cheaper.