Cabinet okays creation of GST Council and Secretariat

12 Sep '16

2 min read

Post President's approval of the Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill, 2016, for introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) last week, the Union Cabinet has today approved setting up of GST Council and its Secretariat. The GST Council would be headed by Union finance minister and its first meeting will take place on September 22-23, in New Delhi.

The GST Council would be created as per Article 279A of the amended Constitution. Its office will be in New Delhi.

The Cabinet decided to appoint secretary (revenue) as the ex-officio secretary to the GST Council. It also decided to include chairperson, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), as a permanent invitee (non-voting) to all proceedings of the GST Council.

One post of additional secretary to the GST Council in the GST Council Secretariat (at the level of additional secretary to the Government of India), and four posts of commissioner in the GST Council Secretariat (at the level of joint secretary to the Government of India) would be created.

The Cabinet also decided to provide for adequate funds for meeting the recurring and non-recurring expenses of the GST Council Secretariat, the entire cost for which shall be borne by the Central Government. The GST Council Secretariat shall be manned by officers taken on deputation from both the Central and state governments.

As per Article 279A of the amended Constitution, the GST Council which will be a joint forum of the Centre and the states, shall consist of the Union finance minister as its chairperson, the Union minister of state, in-charge of revenue of finance as its member, and the minister in-charge of finance or taxation or any other minister nominated by each state government as its members.

As per Article 279A (4), the Council will make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws, principles that govern Place of Supply, threshold limits, GST rates including the floor rates with bands, special rates for raising additional resources during natural calamities/disasters, special provisions for certain states, etc. (RKS)

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