Imagine a big, vibrant joint family filled with young, ambitious members, who dream of education, better opportunities, and a healthy life. The family head prioritises essential needs like food, clothing, education, health and life insurance to safeguard their future. To afford these, he would naturally cut back on non-essential or harmful expenses. Interestingly, this common-sense approach is exactly what the Group of Ministers (GoM), set up by the GST Council, has proposed for the country’s tax structure. It has recommended a major revision of taxes, aligning them more closely with the critical and essential priorities of the common person. Essential items like bottled water, bicycles, and exercise books will see reduced levies. Simultaneously, there is momentum to reduce the GST on health and life insurance premiums, making these essential services more affordable. High-value luxury goods, including tobacco products, will face higher GST rates. Just as a family prioritises investments for the well-being of its members, this proposal reflects a national vision for a healthier, more equitable India. Using tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis and gutka …