Rajasthan Assembly passes state GST Bill

The Rajasthan Assembly passed the state Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 by voice vote today, becoming the third state after Telangana and Bihar to adopt the tax reform measure.
Replying to a debate on the Bill, Industry Minister Rajpal Singh said it was a historic day for the state.
He said the taxation system will change under the new regime which will help the economy of the state as well as the country grow.
"GST will help in seamless flow of inter-state services in the country. Inter-state trade will increase, the GDP will grow and the common man will be benefited," Singh said.

He said tax rates under the GST regime have been finalised.
The minister said several states had agreed upon the GST in principle but they were not in favour of implementing it yet.

He said that the service sector in Rajasthan has been growing rapidly and it accounts for 48 per cent of the state's GDP.
After the debate, the Bill, which has the provision for levy and collection of tax on intra-state supply of goods or services or both by the state, was passed by voice vote.
Deputy speaker Rao Rajendra Singh and some other members of the House took part in the debate on the Bill.

It is after several years that the deputy speaker participated in a debate.