Bhubaneswar: The Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS) today hosted a national seminar on “Socio-Economic Impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST): Consumption Patterns and Influence on Middle Class and Neo-Middle Class.” The event brought together policymakers, economists, and academicians, highlighting NCDS’s role as a hub for development research and policy dialogue.
The seminar, held at NCDS’s premises, provided a platform to examine GST’s evolving impact, particularly on India’s middle and neo-middle classes.
The inaugural session was graced by Yamini Sarangi, Commissioner of CT&GST, Odisha, as Chief Guest; Sudhakar Patra, RBI Chair Professor at Utkal University, as Guest of Honour; and Satya Priya Rath, Additional Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Odisha, as Special Guest. The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by NCDS Director Prakash Chandra Mohanty, who stressed the importance of studying tax reforms beyond revenue metrics, focusing on their social and economic consequences. Rashmi Kabi, Secretary of NCDS, concluded the session with a vote of thanks.
The seminar featured two technical sessions. The first session highlighted NCDS scholars’ research on changing consumption patterns under GST. Expert lectures by an RBI Chair Professor and an Associate Professor from IIT Bhubaneswar provided insights into taxation theory and household economic behaviour.
The second session focused on administrative and policy perspectives. The Joint Commissioner of CT&GST, Odisha, shared practical insights on compliance and its socio-economic implications, while a former NCDS professor discussed the long-term evolution of GST. The discussions saw active participation from attendees, fostering critical debate.
The valedictory session summarised key findings on middle-class resilience and inclusive tax policy. Concluding remarks were delivered by the Secretary of NCDS, followed by the felicitation of guests led by the Director. The seminar ended with a vote of thanks by Convenor Biswabas Patra, encouraging further interaction among participants.
Overall, the seminar reinforced NCDS’s commitment to promoting informed policy dialogue and advancing research on contemporary economic issues.
