Congress To Scrap Agnipath Scheme, Replace GST? What Party Manifesto Promises On Employment, GDP & MSMEs

Congress in its manifesto said that it will  replace the current GST laws formed by the NDA government and the new GST regime will have a single, moderate rate.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Updated: April 5, 2024, 1:53 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/congress-to-scrap-agnipath-scheme-replace-gst-what-party-manifesto-offers-to-unemployed-youth-know-promises-on-gdp-msmes-6837582/ Copy

Congress Releases Its Manifesto For Lok Sabha Polls 2024, Major Focus On Youth, Farmers

The Congress party released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi on Friday.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders were seen unveiling the party manifesto titled ‘Nyay Patra’.

The party promised that it will scrap the controversial Agnipath Scheme and return to the normal recruitment processes followed by the Army, Navy and Air Force that will guarantee economic and social security for our soldiers. 

The Agnipath Scheme was launched in 2022, widely opposed by the youth as it was giving you a job in defense services only for 4 years instead of regular life time services, with an annual package of up to Rs 6.9 lakh.

The party’s election manifesto focuses on ‘Paanch Nyay’ or five pillars of justice, including ‘Yuva Nyay’, ‘Naari Nyay’, ‘Kisaan Nyay’, ‘Shramik Nyay’ and ‘Hissedari Nyay’ as well as the guarantees made by it to the people as part of its poll promises for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Let Us Take A Look At What Congress Manifesto Offers To Unemployed Youth, MSMEs and promises on GST structure and GDP growth.

Congress Manifesto On Employment

• Party manifesto stated that it will fill 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the central government. 
• Promises Ten per cent quota in jobs, educational institutions for Economically weaker section (EWS) from all castes, communities.
• The biggest  promise made by the party is to abolish the controversial Agnipath programme, over which a countrywide protest had happened.  It added that if the party comes to power it will allow direct Armed Forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength.
• Party will launch an urban employment programme guaranteeing work for urban poor in reconstruction, renewal of urban infrastructure, the manifesto said.
• The party manifesto also guaranteed to keep the national minimum wage at Rs 400 per day.
• Congress will abolish contractualisation of government jobs, PSUs and ensure regularization of such appointments.

Congress Promises On GDP

The Congress in its manifesto promised rapid growth and generation of wealth. They have set a target of doubling the GDP in the next 10 years.

Congress Plans For MSMEs

• Party will eliminate “Angel tax” and all other exploitative tax schemes for those investors who invest in new micro, small companies and innovative start-ups. 
• Party will reduce the burden of tax on MSMEs owned by individuals and partnership firms. 

Will Congress Change the Current GST Structure?

Congress in its manifesto said that it will  replace the current GST laws formed by the NDA government and the new GST regime will have a single, moderate rate. However there will be few exceptions to not burden the poor.

• GST will not be levied on agricultural inputs.
• The GST Council will be re-designed and it will become the final authority on policy and on all matters relating to GST.
• GST laws will be divided horizontally between the central government and the state governments. 
• Small GST-payers below a speicified threshold will come under the purview of the state governments.
•  A portion of GST revenues will be allocated to panchayats and municipalities.

(With Inputs From ANI)