GST cuts and Manipur: handloom 12%→5% for 2.5 lakh weavers; packaged coffee 18%→5%
A PIB explainer on 10 October 2025 said the recent GST cuts will benefit Manipur's handloom (2.5 lakh weavers), crafts, food processing, dairy and coffee sectors, with handloom fabrics cut from 12% to 5% and packaged coffee from 18% to 5%.
Summary
A PIB explainer on 10 October 2025 set out how the recent GST cuts affect Manipur's economy. GST on handloom woven fabrics was cut from 12% to 5%, helping about 2.5 lakh weavers, mostly women, who make textiles such as Phanek, Innaphi and Rani in Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Senapati. Packaged coffee fell from 18% to 5%, benefiting about 10,000 coffee farmers in districts such as Ukhrul, Senapati and Chandel, known for Arabica. Bamboo and cane crafts (about 1.2 lakh artisans in Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Tamenglong), processed foods such as pickles and bamboo shoots (about 1.5 lakh workers) and ceramic tableware also moved from 12% to 5%, while ghee, butter, paneer and cheese moved to nil or 5%, helping over 1 lakh dairy farmers.
Key facts
- Handloom
- 12% → 5%; ~2.5 lakh weavers (Phanek, Innaphi, Rani)
- Packaged coffee
- 18% → 5%; ~10,000 farmers (Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel)
- Bamboo/cane crafts
- 12% → 5%; ~1.2 lakh artisans
- Processed food
- 12% → 5%; ~1.5 lakh workers
- Dairy
- Nil/5% on ghee, butter, paneer, cheese; 1 lakh+ dairy farmers
Practice MCQs 2 questions
After the recent GST reforms, what is the GST rate on handloom woven fabrics, according to the PIB explainer on Manipur (October 2025)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 5%
PIB: the GST on handloom woven fabrics was reduced from 12% to 5%, benefiting about 2.5 lakh weavers in Manipur.
Consider the following statements from the PIB explainer on GST reforms and Manipur (October 2025): 1. Around 10,000 farmers are engaged in coffee cultivation in Manipur. 2. GST on packaged coffee was reduced from 12% to 5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: around 10,000 farmers grow coffee in Manipur; GST on packaged coffee was cut from 18% (not 12%) to 5%.