PM calls for intensive meetings of GST Council

Eyeing an April 1 roll out of the goods and services tax, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged that all steps be completed before then.

Modi held a meeting to review the preparedness for roll out of GST on Wednesday. He said the GST Council would need to have intensive meetings to be able to make timely recommendations, including those relating to the model GST Bill, rates, and the goods and services that may be subjected to or exempted from the law.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and senior officials of the Prime Ministers Office and finance ministry.

"The Prime Minister reviewed the progress made on GST such as rules to be framed, establishment of IT infrastructure for both Centre and states, training of central and state officers and awareness outreach for trade and industry," said a statement issued by the PMO on Thursday

"The Prime Minister directed that all steps must be completed much before April 1, 2017," it said.

The first meeting of the GST Council, headed by the finance minister, will be held on September 22 and 23, and the panel is to make recommendations within 60 days.