Smart televisions are expected to be cheaper by anywhere between 8 to 10% after the 56th GST Council approved the new rates. Smart televisions, mainly LED and LCD, beyond 32 inches, will be taxed at 18% starting September 22.
Earlier, they attracted 28% GST and hence, a good 10% cut is seen as catalyst for people to upgrade and adopt premium and large screens.
“With the GST reduction, we are hopeful that the entire benefit, ranging from 8% to 10%, will be passed on to the consumers. This will definitely boost consumption, especially in the 55-inch and above TV segment, where customers stand to enjoy a significant price advantage. Our revised estimate is a 5% to 10% uplift in demand, up from previous projections,” said Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director, Sony India to The Hindu.
For a ₹35,000 smart TV of 43 inches, buyers are paying ₹9,800 GST (28%) which will eventually come down to ₹6,300 (18%). So, they will be saving ₹3,500 on the same TV set. The 32-inch smart TVs will continue to be taxed at 18%.
Sony India is also stepping up its marketing activities and investments this Diwali season to capture and build on this positive consumer sentiment, Mr. Nayyar added.
Per the recent insights shared by Amazon and other channel players, Indians are primarily moving towards larger smart televisions beyond 43 inches due to premiumisation and affordability options like no-cost EMI and cashback offers.
With the large-scale adoption of OTT platforms, smart televisions have become the centre stage in Indian households.
“The GST reduction on smart televisions is expected to bring the down the prices by 7-8%,” said Pankaj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, Hisense India while speaking with The Hindu.
It will also help people upgrade and move to higher categories. Mr. Rana also said that due to this tax cut, Hisense is expecting a 20-25% growth in sales this festive season.
“We welcome this GST reduction on smart TVs, as it not only makes technology more affordable for consumers but also drives digital inclusion across households. This progressive step will boost demand, encourage innovation, and support the growth of India’s electronics industry. This step will not only benefit consumers but also strengthen the entire value chain of the smart TV ecosystem: from manufacturers to retailers – giving a boost to India’s economy,” said Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, SPPL (brand licensee for Kodak, Blaupunkt and Thomson).
LG also feels that the new GST structure will boost overall consumer sentiment and there could be an uptick in TV, monitor, residential air conditioner and dishwasher sales.
“Especially in TV segment we expect people will upgrade to bigger sizes [of] TV,” said Sanjay Chitkara, Chief Sales officer, LG Electronics India.
This structural change is a catalyst for consumer growth. By easing the burden on everyday essentials, this move impacts discretionary spending, which we believe will make our electronics more accessible to Indian household, added Mr. Chitkara.
Published – September 06, 2025 08:07 am IST
