Govt Grants 50% GST relief on purchases made from Central Police Canteens

The Government of India has granted 50% GST relief on purchases made from Central Police Canteens (Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar).

Union government has approved a 50% GST aid for CAPF soldiers who purchase commodities from the country’s network of central police canteens, an ex-paramilitary forces personnel welfare association said on Monday.

The association hailed the Union Home Ministry’s decision for the ‘Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar’ (KPKB), or the central police welfare store that manages the chain of over 1,700 canteens across the country.

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) include the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. Personnel from other central police organisations, such as the BPRD and NCRB, can also use the canteens‘ services.

These forces’ personnel are responsible for a wide range of security missions both domestically and internationally.

Ranbir Singh, general secretary of the Confederation of Ex-Paramilitary Forces Martyrs Welfare Association, issued a statement welcoming the “historic decision” and describing it as a “Holi bonanza for the 20 lakh strong serving and retired paramilitary personnel and their families”.

He stated that a 50% discount on Goods and Service Tax (GST) on commodities purchased from canteens will be imposed beginning April 1 of the next financial year.

The cash for this relief will come from the budget allocation allocated for these forces, Singh stated.

The central police canteens generate an estimated Rs.2,800 crore in revenue each year by selling a variety of household products, groceries, clothing, and vehicles, among other items, to 50 lakh family members of approximately 10 lakh personnel in these forces, as well as retired personnel and their families.