MAM
Soaps to sodas, GST clean sweep gives FMCG a bubbly new outlook
MUMBAI: The FMCG aisle just got a tax wash, and shoppers may finally come out smelling of roses. With the government’s GST 2.0 reform collapsing the maze of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent slabs into a neat trio of 5 per cent, 18 per cent and a frothy 40 per cent, the everyday essentials that power India’s consumption story have been given a welcome scrub.
Soap, toothpaste, shampoos, toothbrushes and shaving cream once languishing at 18 per cent now gleam under the 5 per cent bracket, a move that analysts say could spark a volume surge of 8–12 per cent in FMCG sales in Q4 2025. For households tightening belts, and for rural India where every rupee pinches, that’s a tax break with real bite.
Food has also found its sweet spot. Ghee, nuts, bottled water, namkeen and dairy staples have been moved to 5 per cent, with paneer and UHT milk made entirely GST-free. The dairy sector alone is expected to lap up a Rs 11,400 crore boost, with giants like Amul and Britannia licking their lips. Even indulgences like ice-cream and butter now come with a lighter 5 per cent tag.
It isn’t just the kitchen basket that’s cheering. Tractors, pumps and fertilisers all at 5 per cent promise lower farm costs and higher rural income, feeding directly into FMCG consumption. Add cheaper packaging materials, and margins for companies like HUL, Dabur and Marico may fatten by 100–150 basis points.
But it isn’t all sugar and spice. Premium and discretionary products still find themselves in the bitter bracket. Aerated drinks, colas, energy beverages and luxury chocolates continue to fizz under 18 per cent or the punishing 40 per cent sin rate, leaving players like Coca-cola and Pepsi nursing flat outlooks. The GST Council may have thrown a party for soaps and shampoos, but sodas are still paying for the hangover.
On the compliance front, the industry is racing to reprint price tags and rejig invoices before the 22 September 2025 roll-out, with old stock adjustments threatening short-term headaches for distributors. Yet, with GST audits now mandatory only above Rs 10 crore turnover, smaller FMCG outfits can breathe easier.
The broader script is clear: this reset is pro-rural, pro-consumption and pro-MSME, even if it means the exchequer takes a knock – with the Global Trade Research Initiative warning of a Rs 10,664 crore revenue shortfall from import-linked IGST alone.
Still, for an industry fuelled by volume, the GST reboot couldn’t have been better timed. As festive season shelves stack up, FMCG finds itself freshly polished, priced to move, and perfectly poised to turn tax relief into a consumption carnival.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
