The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has formally written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, demanding a sharp reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air purifiers and HEPA filters from 18% to 5%, as Delhi-NCR's worsening air quality crisis triggers a dramatic surge in demand for air purification devices. The letter, issued on 15 November 2026, comes as the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 400 mark — a level that doctors, according to CTI, equate to smoking 20–25 cigarettes a day.

Fivefold Surge in Demand

Brijesh Goyal, Chairman of CTI — an organisation representing traders and entrepreneurs across Delhi and the country — said demand for air purifiers has risen nearly fivefold over just a few days as pollution levels deteriorated sharply. 'Previously, an average of four air purifiers were sold daily per shop; now, that figure has risen to approximately 20 units per day, with some companies even running out of stock,' the CTI stated.

The scale of the spike underscores how rapidly a device once considered a premium purchase has moved into the category of daily necessity for Delhi residents. Supply chains are reportedly under strain, with select brands facing stockouts across distribution points in the capital.

The GST Argument: Luxury Tax on a Health Essential

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal and General Secretary Gurmeet Arora argue that the current 18% GST slab is misclassified for a product that has effectively become a health device. 'If the government can reduce GST on life-saving medicines, it should also reduce the GST on air purifiers — which serve as a respiratory medicine of sorts,' Goyal said.

The organisation is specifically calling for the 5% rate to cover not just the main unit but all critical replacement components — including HEPA filters, carbon filters, UV lamps, motors, and sensors — noting that filters typically require replacement every six months. Under the existing structure, the recurring cost of maintaining an air purifier, taxed repeatedly at 18%, substantially increases the total cost of ownership for middle-income households.

Make in India Push and Raw Material Duty Relief

CTI has also flagged the tax burden on domestic manufacturing. The body is seeking a reduction in GST on raw materials used to produce air purifiers from the current 12% to 5%. The rationale, it argues, is twofold: lowering the retail price of domestically manufactured units and reducing India's dependence on Chinese imports in this segment. This aligns broadly with the Centre's existing Make in India framework, though the government has not yet responded to the specific demand.

₹5,500 Crore Relief Package Sought

Beyond GST relief, CTI has pressed for a comprehensive government response to the pollution crisis. It is seeking a special pollution relief package of ₹5,000 crore from the Centre for Delhi, to be deployed for smog towers, green belt development, road washing, and expansion of AQI monitoring infrastructure.

Separately, the CTI has demanded ₹500 crore in central financial assistance to install air purifiers in government schools, hospitals, Anganwadi centres, and 100 major markets across Delhi. The two demands together total ₹5,500 crore in public expenditure asks.

GRAP Restrictions Hit Traders Hard

CTI has also raised concerns about the economic fallout on traders from pollution-control restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Market closures and operational curbs linked to GRAP have disrupted business activity across several commercial zones. The organisation is seeking a six-month moratorium on EMIs, a 2% interest subsidy, and special working capital loan provisions for affected traders — a demand that reflects the dual squeeze the pollution crisis is placing on both residents and the commerce ecosystem in the capital.

The government's response to the CTI letter, and whether GST Council discussions will be triggered ahead of its next scheduled meeting, remains to be seen.