A decision by India’s central government to impose various taxes on popcorn has sparked a new debate. According to Indian media, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council announced on Saturday that non-branded popcorn, which contains salt and spices, will be subject to a 5% GST. Pre-packaged and branded popcorn will be taxed at 12%, while caramel popcorn, categorized as a sugary confectionery, will face an 18% GST.
The government confirmed that the new taxes would be implemented immediately, aiming to standardize popcorn prices across the country. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that products containing sugar would be taxed at a different rate than other items.
The decision has been met with strong criticism from opposition leaders, while social media users are mocking the move with memes. The new tax regime, introduced in 2017, has also raised questions from two former economic advisers to the government.
