Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In order to ensure that there is no slippage on the date of implementation of GST from 1st April, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening held a meeting to review the preparedness. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley his deputies and senior officers from PMO and the Finance Ministry.
The prime minister directed that all steps including preparation of Model GST laws and rules, establishment of IT infrastructure for both Centre and States, training of officers of Central and State Governments must be completed much before 1st April, 2017.
The prime minister observed that GST Council would need to have intensive meetings to be able to make timely recommendations relating to its mandate provided in 279A including making recommendations relating to Model GST laws and GSTrates
“The Prime Minister reviewed the progress made on various steps needed for the rollout of GST relating to preparation of Model GST laws and rules to be framed, establishment of IT infrastructure for both Centre and States, training of officers of Central and State Governments and outreach for awareness of trade and industry,” said a PMO statement issued today.
“The Prime Minister directed that all steps must be completed much before 1st April, 2017,” it said.
The Union cabinet last week granted its approval to formation, process and functioning of GST council just four days after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent to the Goods and Services tax bill.
The GST council will be responsible for deciding various issues including the GST tax rate and how the new tax regime will function. The council will be headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and members will comprise of state Finance Ministers.
The Union government is planning to implement GST from April 1, 2017 and is working on a tight schedule.
The revises GST bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session after which 16 states ratified it. President Pranab Mukherjee’s nod was the final formality after which the government will now work towards the implementation of the new tax regime.
