In a bid to boost digitisation in the education sector, the Goods and Service Tax Council, in its 28th meeting on Saturday, announced that it will reduce the rate of tax from 18 per cent to 5 per cent on supply of e-books for which print version exist.

Welcoming the decision, Prashant Bhalla, Treasurer, Education Promotion Society of India, said, “It is indeed a good decision as it will give a boost to the digital content in the Indian education system in the country. Also, any reduction in GST in education is a welcome step as it is students who have to bear the brunt of increase due to hike of GST rate in education”.

Teachers also believe that with this announcement more and more students will have access to the books. “Since the future is of e-books and digitisation so this way the sooner students are introduced to the e-books the better it is for them. It is a great step,” said Rachna Pant, Professor at Ramjas School in RK Puram.

However, there are some who believe that it is a good decision but when it comes to technology there still are some challenges in the education system.

“It is definitely a boon for students, especially from CBSE and ICSE boards, but it needs to be seen that how much it would help the students studying in the State boards,” said Anusha Sharma, Principal, Vidyasthali, a unit of Study Hall Educational Foundation, Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh.

She added, it is the need of the hour to first train the teachers in the rural areas and make them tech-savvy.

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