The surge in these stocks followed the news that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is likely to announce a uniform 5 per cent GST rate on all commercial-use drones in its upcoming meeting
This could be a major relief to India's burgeoning drone industry, which consists of around 488 drone companies that have collectively secured $518 million in funding so far
The Union government plans to propose GST rate and slab cuts to the GST Council. Can this reform make India's indirect tax system truly simple?
Speaking on the ongoing efforts to simplify the GST structure, Nirmala Sitharaman said, 'We are very close to closing in on a final call on the reduction in GST rates and slabs'
The GST Council has reconstituted the Group of Ministers on GST revenue analysis which will suggest sector-specific issues that need policy intervention, and the feasibility of a unified enforcement platform to check tax evasion. The GST Council, in its 55th meeting on December 21, 2024, had decided to reconstitute the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST revenue analysis with a revised ToR. The GoM was first set up in 2019. The reconstituted GoM on 'Analysis of Revenue from GST' under Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, would have nine members including from the states of Bihar (Samrat Chaudhary), Chhattisgarh (O P Choudhary), Gujarat (Kanubhai Desai), Andhra Pradesh (P Keshav), Maharashtra (Ajit Pawar), Punjab (Harpal Singh Cheema), Tamil Nadu (Thangam Thennarasu) and Telangana (M B Vikramarka). As per the expanded ToR, the GoM would analyse the state-wise revenue collection trend, including the identification of revenue patterns across sectors and regions. It would also review details
BS Manthan: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the ongoing global turbulence as a "splashing" of forces, urging India to actively participate rather than remain a bystander
The GST Council will soon take a decision on having fewer and lower rates as the review work is almost complete, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. Currently, Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a four-tier tax structure with slabs at 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. Luxury and demerit goods are taxed at the highest bracket of 28 per cent, while packed food and essential items are in the lowest 5 per cent slab. The Council, chaired by Sitharaman and comprising her state counterparts, has set up a group of ministers (GoM) to suggest changes in GST rates as well as reduce slabs. "To be fair to the GST and the ministers who are all in the council, the work on rationalizing and simplifying GST rates has already commenced. In fact, it had commenced nearly three years ago," she said at the India Today-Business Today Post Budget Round Table. Sitharaman said later the scope was widened and now the work is almost complete. Mentioning that she told ministers in the Council to have a
Simplification of direct and indirect tax policies will be the main focus area for the government in the New Year after beginning the review of the six-decade-old income tax law and rationalisation of the GST rate in 2024. With monthly gross GST collections stabilising at around Rs 1.8 lakh crore and gross direct tax collections steadily rising at 20 per cent rate, the effort to ease compliance burden for individuals as well as corporates will gain traction. On the GST front, individuals are awaiting a tax cut in life and health insurance premiums, which will bring down the cost of insurance, while businesses are awaiting the operationalisation of the GST Tribunal for faster dispute resolution. Also, the work on rationalising GST rates and slabs has been put in motion with a group of ministers (GoM) deliberating on the changes, but a final decision is expected only by the GST Council, comprising the Centre and state finance ministers. Currently, GST is a four-tier tax structure wit
From rate rationalisation to cess management and expanding the GST base, India's evolving tax regime faces critical design and compliance challenges requiring balanced reforms
The GST Council decided to suitably amend the CGST Act to link GST on restaurant services with actual room tariff provided by the hotel
Change in sale of old EVs a simplification measure
GST Council brings sponsorship services under forward charge mechanism
GST on resale of used vehicles by businesses has been raised to 18% from 12%, bringing the used EV market at par with other petrol and diesel vehicles
A finance ministry spokesperson, the GST Council Secretariat and a spokesman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party did not respond to requests for comment on the controversy
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the BJP over levying GST on examination forms, saying the government had turned the dreams of parents who saved every penny to prepare their children for exams into a source of income. The Congress general secretary shared an examination form of the Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute, Sultanpur, that showed 18 per cent GST was being charged. "The BJP cannot provide jobs to youngsters but it is definitely rubbing salt on the wounds by charging 18 per cent GST on examination forms. GST is being charged on every government job form, including Agniveer," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. "After filling the form, if the paper is leaked due to the failure of the government or if there is corruption, then this money of the youngsters is wasted," she said. Parents sacrifice their lives and save every penny to educate their children and prepare them for the exams but the BJP government has turned their dreams into
It was clarified that ready-to-eat popcorn mixed with salt and spices attracted a 5 per cent GST rate. It attracts a 12 per cent tax if supplied as pre-packed and labelled
FinMin says some changes may take effect from April
GST Council addresses disaster levy, clarifies tax exemptions, and revises ITC norms, while deferring insurance premium GST cut and key rate rationalisation decisions
GST Council on Saturday agreed to issue a clarification on taxation of popcorn, saying that pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat snacks will attract a 12 per cent tax while an 18 per cent GST will be levied if it is caramelised. There is no change in the tax rate of popcorn and the GST Council has only agreed that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will issue a circular clarifying the current taxation regime of popcorn. "Ready-to-eat popcorn", which is mixed with salt and spices, and has the essential character of namkeens currently attracts a 5 per cent GST if it is not pre-packaged and labelled. If it is supplied as pre-packaged and labelled, a 12 per cent GST is levied. However, when popcorn is mixed with sugar (caramel popcorn), its essential character changes to that of a sugar confectionary, and would therefore be classifiable under HS 1704 90 90 and attract an 18 per cent GST, as per the clarification.
Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said another meeting of the GoM is scheduled for January before the proposal is reintroduced to the GST Council