Spectacle & Timing The year’s final lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) is set for the night of September 7–8, 2025, visible prominently across India and much of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia Indiatimes The Times of India+1 Wikipedia . In India, the eclipse begins around 21:58 IST, peaks at 23:41, and ends near 1:26 AM, lasting approximately 3 to 3.5 hours Indiatimes The Times of India+1 AajTak Amar Ujala The Economic Times Live Hindustan . Cultural & Religious Significance This eclipse holds deep spiritual weight— coinciding with Pitru Paksha and Bhadrapada Poornima, it demands observance of Sutak rituals, which begin ~9 hours before the eclipse and impose restrictions on cooking, worship, and other auspicious activities Indiatimes Navbharat Times AajTak Amar Ujala The Times of India The Economic Times . Astrologically, many communities advise rituals like prayers, charity, meditation, and fasting to harness spiritual benefits Indiatimes Navbharat Times Maharashtra Times The ...
Major GST Overhaul & Its Automotive Impact
On September 22, 2025, India’s GST Council implemented a sweeping tax reform that simplified GST rates and trimmed tax burdens across key sectors. Notably, automobiles saw major adjustments: small cars (petrol/LPG/CNG vehicles up to 1,200 cc and under 4 m, plus diesel up to 1,500 cc/4 m) now attract a flat 18% GST, down from the previous 28% plus cess, effectively reducing total tax from roughly 30–31% to 18% ReutersThe Economic TimesCARS24OpIndiawww.ndtv.com.
For larger vehicles, GST has been standardized to 40%, replacing the earlier combined load of 28% GST and 17–22% cess (up to 50%) ReutersThe Times of IndiaSmartprixCARS24.
Maruti Suzuki: Steering Through the GST Change
Maruti Suzuki’s leadership, including Chairman RC Bhargava, has lauded the reform as a transformative, pro-consumer measure that will boost competitiveness and stimulate demand, especially for their core small car lineup The Economic TimesThe Economic TimesBusiness StandardMillenniumPost.
Projected Price Impacts:
Small models like Alto, Wagon R, Swift, Baleno, Dzire are likely to see price drops of 8–9%, translating to reductions in ex-showroom prices ranging from ₹64,000 to ₹1.06 lakh Business StandardCARS24www.ndtv.com.
Alto could be ₹40,000–50,000 cheaper; Wagon R might drop ₹60,000–67,000 Business Standard.
Swift buyers might save around ₹78,000 (~9%) on overall price CARS24.
Mid-size and larger cars fall into the 40% slab, with more modest reductions (~3–4% off), yet still benefiting from cess removal CARS24www.ndtv.comSmartprixThe Times of India.
Demand Outlook & Industry Growth
Maruti forecasts a ~10% increase in small-car sales during FY 2025–26, thanks to the lower 18% GST on these models Business StandardMillenniumPost.
Analysts foresee auto sector growth rebounding to around 7% annually post-reform—a significant uptick from a sluggish 1–2% forecast earlier MillenniumPost.
Furthermore, Maruti’s stock performance benefited: shares surged over 8–9% in anticipation of GST relief, with investor confidence buoyed by the expected demand revival Business TodayThe Economic Times+1.
Quick Snapshot Table
CategoryPrevious Tax + CessNew GST RateEstimated Price Impact
Small Cars (up to 4 m, ≤1,200 cc petrol) ~30–31% 18% Savings ₹64k–₹1.06 lakh (~8–9%)
Mid-size & Larger Cars ~45–50% 40% Savings ~3–4% (e.g., ~₹30k–60k)
Luxury/SUVs ~45–50% 40% Modest reduction, but still lower
Final Thoughts
Maruti Suzuki, a key beneficiary of the GST overhaul, now sees its affordable models (like Alto, Wagon R, Swift) becoming even more competitively priced, while demand is expected to get a strong festive-season boost. The broader auto industry looks set to revive growth, benefiting both consumers (through savings) and manufacturers (via improved margins and volumes).
Let me know if you'd like deeper insights—for example, model-specific pricing, dealer-level margin implications, or insights on larger sedans/SUVs.
Mid-size & Larger Cars ~45–50% 40% Savings ~3–4% (e.g., ~₹30k–60k)
Luxury/SUVs ~45–50% 40% Modest reduction, but still lower
Final Thoughts
Maruti Suzuki, a key beneficiary of the GST overhaul, now sees its affordable models (like Alto, Wagon R, Swift) becoming even more competitively priced, while demand is expected to get a strong festive-season boost. The broader auto industry looks set to revive growth, benefiting both consumers (through savings) and manufacturers (via improved margins and volumes).
Let me know if you'd like deeper insights—for example, model-specific pricing, dealer-level margin implications, or insights on larger sedans/SUVs.
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