New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The roll out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) will bring benefits to the consumers due to reduced tax rates on various commodities, such as packaged cement, medicaments, smart phones, and medical devices. 'The packaged cement attracts central Excise duty of 12.5 per cent plus Rs 125 PMT and standard VAT rate of 14.5 per cent. At these rates, the present total tax incidence works out to more than 29 per cent. If we include tax incidence on account of CST, octroi and entry tax, the present total tax incidence would work out to more than 31 per cent. As against this, the proposed GST rate for cement is 28 per cent,' a Finance Ministry statement said here. There will be lesser tax burden in case of Medicaments, including Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathic or Bio-chemic systems also, it said. Medicaments, in general, attract six per cent Central Excise duty and five per cent VAT. Further, CST, octroi and entry tax are also applicable in general. At these rates, the present total tax incidence works out to more than 13 per cent. As against this, the proposed GST rate on medicines, including ayurvedic medicines, is 12 per cent. Smart phone attracts two per cent Central Excise duty [one per cent excise duty + one per cent NCCD]. VAT rates vary from State to State, from five per cent to 15 per cent. Weighted average VAT rate on smart phones works out to about 12 per cent. Thus, the present total tax incidence on smart phones works out to more than 13.5 per cent. As against this, the proposed GST rate for smart phones is 12 per cent. Similarly, medical devices, including surgical instruments, in general attract six per cent Central Excise duty and five per cent VAT. Along with CST, octroi and entry tax, the present total tax incidence on them works out to more than 13 per cent. As against this, the proposed rate under GST is 12 per cent. Puja samagri including havan samagri will be under the Nil category. However, exact formulation for the same is yet to be finalised, the statement added. UNI ADP RJ SHK 1609