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GST RollOut: India Against The World
The year was 1954. In an attempt to reduce tax evasion, France introduced a new scheme which since has been adopted by more than 160 countries, the Goods and Services Tax. With an aim to introduce the concept of One Nation, One Tax, India recently joined the GST bandwagon to unite indirect taxes under one umbrella. In light of India’s newest entry, let’s take a look at how the GST taxes are levied around the world.
Just like the Indian Constitution, the GST has also drawn inspiration from other countries. The dual GST system which allows both levels of the Government to levy and collect taxes is similar to that applied in Canada and Brazil. In Canada, the Goods and Service tax is levied by the Federal government while the State levies the Provincial sales taxes ranging from zero to ten percent. Brazil also follows a similar structure with the Federal tax imposed by the center varies from 17% to 18% and the State tax varies between 4% and 255.
In India, however, GST is broken into four slabs between 5,12,18 and 28 percent but there are seven categories of taxes in total. While 75% of goods and services fall under the blanket tax of 18% certain commodities and services can be charged with 28% tax rates. In a majority of the countries around the world, a single central GST tax is levied sticking to the concept of One Nation, One Tax. Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Mauritius, South Africa and the United Kingdom to name a few have only one tax rate across the country.
A strong reason behind India having a dual GST structure lies in the irregular distribution of finances with the majority of the population still living in rural areas. Another notable difference is the GST is payable at the final point of consumption meaning that current taxable events such as manufacturing of goods and rendition of services will not be relevant under the new regime.
The United States of America, despite being a major economy in the world does not have GST as States have high autonomy in taxation. Australia had one of the most smooth implementations of GST in 2000 with a rate fixed at 10%. Malaysia joined the GST bandwagon with 6% rate in 2015, after 26 years of debate. France levies GST at the rate of 19.6% today, while the GST rate in the United Kingdom is 20%.
The healthy snacking category in India is no longer a niche trend it is steadily becoming a mainstream consumer movement. The latest funding momentum around brands like Phab highlights how investors are increasingly backing companies that sit at the intersection of health, convenience, and modern lifestyles. As urban consumers become more conscious of ingredients, nutrition, and long-term wellness, demand is shifting away from traditional packaged snacks toward products that promise both taste and better nutritional value.
What makes this market particularly attractive is its ability to create recurring consumer habits. Unlike many direct-to-consumer categories that rely heavily on one-time purchases, healthy snacks naturally fit into daily routines. This opens opportunities for brands to build stronger customer loyalty while expanding into adjacent categories such as protein-rich foods, functional beverages, and wellness-focused products. The competition is no longer about selling snacks it is about owning a larger share of the consumer’s health journey.
Looking ahead, the biggest winners may not be the brands with the widest product portfolios, but those that can balance nutrition, affordability, and taste at scale. As health-conscious consumption expands beyond metro cities, India’s better-for-you food segment could evolve into one of the country’s most significant consumer categories. The growing flow of capital into this space signals that investors are betting on a long-term behavioral shift rather than a short-lived food trend.
India’s fintech sector is entering a new phase of growth, and the spotlight is increasingly shifting toward underserved consumers in smaller cities and towns. The recent funding secured by WeRize reflects growing investor confidence in platforms that are expanding access to financial products such as credit, insurance, and other services for customers who have traditionally remained outside the reach of formal financial institutions. As digital adoption deepens across the country, fintech companies are finding significant opportunities beyond metro markets.
What makes this trend notable is the industry’s transition from simply enabling digital payments to building broader financial ecosystems. Rather than focusing on a single service, fintech firms are expanding their product portfolios to meet multiple customer needs under one platform. This approach not only strengthens customer relationships but also creates more sustainable business models by increasing engagement and lifetime value.
The larger implication is that India’s next fintech growth story may be driven by financial inclusion rather than convenience alone. Investors are increasingly backing companies that combine technology, data-driven underwriting, and localized distribution to serve emerging consumer segments. As competition intensifies, the ability to build trust, offer relevant products, and address the financial needs of Bharat could become a key differentiator for the next generation of fintech leaders.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
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