Experts urge GST council to classify ultra-processed foods as demerit goods

By A Representative

The Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), a group of doctors, public health experts, and nutrition advocates, has written to Union Finance Minister and GST Council Chairperson Nirmala Sitharaman seeking the classification of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as “demerit goods” under the Goods and Services Tax regime. In a letter ahead of the GST Council meeting scheduled for September 3–4, 2025, the group recommended placing HFSS and UPFs in the highest GST slab of 28 percent or more, citing their established links to obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The letter noted that over 56.4 percent of deaths in India are linked to unhealthy diets, as highlighted in the 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Indians issued by the ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition. It also pointed to the Economic Survey of 2024–25, which flagged the rising economic burden of NCDs and identified dietary risks from UPFs as a major factor. The Union Health Ministry and Health Minister J.P. Nadda have also drawn attention to the vulnerability of children to unhealthy food marketing, the letter stated.

Citing data from Euromonitor, the group said UPF consumption in India has surged from USD 900 million in 2006 to USD 37 billion in 2019, while obesity and diabetes rates have shown a parallel rise. It argued that unprocessed and minimally processed foods remain expensive, driving people toward cheaper UPFs. NAPi suggested that higher GST on these products would discourage consumption, while revenues could be earmarked for health promotion, nutrition education, and incentives to produce minimally processed foods.

The group drew on international examples to support its recommendations. Mexico’s 2014 tax on sugary drinks and calorie-dense snacks reportedly reduced purchases and encouraged healthier substitutions, while Chile’s 2016 policy of higher taxes combined with front-of-pack warning labels brought down consumption of unhealthy drinks by 24 percent.

NAPi maintained that similar fiscal measures in India could help curb the growing burden of NCDs and strengthen public health systems. The letter was signed by several eminent pediatricians, public health experts, and nutrition advocates, including Dr. Arun Gupta, Dr. Vandana Prasad, Prof. HPS Sachdev, and Ms. Deepika Srivastava, among others. Copies of the letter have also been sent to senior officials in the Finance Ministry, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan* The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Unpaid overtime, broken promises: Indian Oil workers strike in Panipat

By Rosamma Thomas Thousands of workers at the Indian Oil Corporation refinery in Panipat, Haryana, went on strike beginning February 23, 2026. They faced a police lathi charge, and the Central Industrial Security Force fired into the air to control the crowd.

Search This Blog