'GST Constitution Amendment Bill in this session'

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Government proposes to introduce the Constitution Amendment Bill in the current session to pave the way for introduction of the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

"I propose to introduce the constitution amendment bill in this session of Parliament," Mukherjee said in his Budget speech 2011-12.

The government originally planned to roll out GST from April 1 last year but a consensus could not be reached on the introduction of the Bill, which needs to be passed by two-third majority in both the Houses of Parliament.

In its latest GST constitution amendment draft -- the third of so far -- the Centre has proposed to give powers to Parliament for constituting the GST council.

The earlier two drafts had to be changed because of opposition by some states to them, who said the Bill would curb their fiscal autonomy.

GST would subsume most of the central and state taxes like excise and sales tax, making rules easier for the industry and other tax payers.