Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday described the upcoming goods and services tax (GST) reforms as a major leap towards making India self-reliant, terming them the “next-generation” of changes needed to strengthen the economy and simplify compliance for citizens, news agency ANI reported. He called the reforms a “double dhamaka of happiness” ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja.

Announcing the date of implementation, PM Modi said the simplified GST regime will come into effect from September 22, which marks the first day of Navratri.

Reiterating what he said during his Independence Day speech, PM Modi stated, “Without timely changes, we cannot give our country its rightful place in today’s global situation. I had said from the Red Fort on 15 August this time that it is crucial to undertake next-generation reforms to make India self-reliant. I had also promised the countrymen that there would be a double dhamaka of happiness before this Diwali and Chhath Puja...”