Social media buzzed with memes and humour after the Indian GST Council announced an 18% tax on caramelised popcorn, classifying it as sugar confectionery.
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that caramelised popcorn falls under a different tax bracket from salted and plain popcorn due to its sugar content. She noted that tax rates are based on the preparation method and the food item’s characteristics.
Unbranded salted popcorn attracts a 5% tax, branded versions 12%, and caramelised popcorn 18%. This tax structure has faced criticism for its complexity but has inspired many memes.
India’s GST system has often been at the centre of debates, with past controversies over tax differences between chapatis and parathas, curd and yoghurt, and plain versus cream-filled buns.
The new GST rates on popcorn have unleashed a torrent of creativity online. Memes and jokes about the tax distinctions abound.
One social media user humorously remarked, “While Russia develops a cancer vaccine and the US builds AI robots, India classifies popcorn into three tax categories!” Another added levity to the debate by jesting about the “Himalayan Salt Caramel Popcorn tax rate.”
