Amid recent cuts in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has witnessed a surge of over 3,000 complaints from shoppers who allege they are not receiving the intended benefits of reduced taxation. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare confirmed the development on Monday while speaking to reporters at an event, stressing that swift measures are being taken to hold violators accountable.
According to Khare, these complaints are being directed to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) for deeper scrutiny. Many grievances accuse retailers of resorting to deceptive practices, including artificially hiking base prices or masking reductions through misleading discounts, leaving consumers shortchanged despite tax relief.
To combat this, the ministry has deployed advanced tools such as artificial intelligence and chatbot-based monitoring systems to study complaint patterns across sectors. Khare assured that regulators are keeping a close watch to guarantee that businesses genuinely pass on tax benefits, underscoring the government’s firm stance on consumer protection.
The GST rate cuts were introduced with the intent of easing household expenses on multiple goods and services. However, reports of retailers exploiting loopholes to retain margins have raised concerns about compliance. By actively forwarding cases to the CBIC, the ministry aims to plug gaps in enforcement and ensure fair play in the market.
Authorities have also urged consumers to stay alert and continue reporting irregularities via the NCH. The crackdown highlights the Centre’s broader push to strengthen transparency in pricing and shield citizens from unfair trade practices.