The student community is happy over the decision to remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from student’s Paying Guest (PG) accommodations. Seeing this as a progressive policy change, students feel it will make higher education significantly more affordable and accessible for students across the country. The Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering the youth and investing in the future of India.
Anshul Rana, an engineering student at LPU from Himachal Pradesh, added, It will make higher education more accessible, especially for students from middle-class and underprivileged backgrounds.” Prior to this change, PG owners had to navigate complex legal requirements and engage financial advisors to properly file GST returns, with the associated costs being passed on to the students. “The GST on PG rentals was a significant added expense for us, both in terms of the tax itself and the administrative burden,” said Sukhpreet Singh, a PG owner in Phagwara. “Now, this burden has been lifted, and we can provide more affordable accommodations to students.”
“We deeply appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s decisive action in removing the GST from PG accommodations,” said Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU). “This move will ease the financial strain on students and their families, allowing them to focus on their studies and unlock their full potential. It is a true win for the academic community in India.”
The GST council in its meeting last week decided on exemption on hostel accommodation for students or working class and can be availed only if the stay is up to 90 days. Earlier, the rent on hostels outside campuses attracted 12 per cent GST.
