Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter to citizens coinciding with the rollout of the revamped Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms on Monday, urged people across the country to commit to buying and selling “Made in India” products.
Calling the Swadeshi movement the need of the hour, Modi said that by choosing Indian-made goods, citizens could directly support artisans, workers, farmers, and small businesses. “This festive season, let us also resolve to support products that are Made in India. This means buying Swadeshi products that have the sweat and toil of an Indian involved in their making, irrespective of the brand or the company that makes them,” he wrote.
He appealed to traders and shopkeepers to lead by example by prioritizing Indian products. “Let us proudly say – what we buy is Swadeshi. Let us proudly say – what we sell is Swadeshi,” the prime minister added. Modi also urged state governments to provide a conducive environment for manufacturing, investment, and entrepreneurship to thrive.
The GST reforms, which took effect on September 22 — the first day of Navratri — mark a major change to India’s indirect tax regime. The government has replaced the previous four-tier GST structure with a simplified two-rate system of 18 percent and 5 percent. According to the government, this “citizen-friendly simple tax” is designed to reduce compliance burden, encourage consumption, and put more disposable income in the hands of people.
Modi hailed the reforms as a move that would boost savings and benefit every section of society, including farmers, women, youth, traders, the middle class, and MSMEs. Experts believe that the new structure could also improve tax collection efficiency and reduce litigation by eliminating ambiguities in rate classification.
The prime minister’s dual appeal — promoting Swadeshi products and embracing a simplified GST — comes as India enters the festive season, a time when consumer demand typically surges. The government hopes both measures will together stimulate domestic manufacturing and strengthen India’s economic resilience.
