GST is the biggest tax reform since Independence: PM Narendra Modi

Earlier, the Prime Minister gave credit to all political parties who unanimously approved the legislation despite “bitter rivalries”, saying it was an example of how big tasks can be done if all parties work together. “In August 2016, parties having intense political rivalry, parties which do not let go any chance to attack each other, all came together to pass the GST bill,” he said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. “The credit goes to all the parties. This is an example of how big a task can be accomplished when all parties work together in one direction,” he added.

The long-pending Constitution amendment bill that will pave the way for roll out of GST, a new uniform indirect tax regime, in the country was passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3 and by Lok Sabha on August 8. The GST will replace more than a dozen levies central and state levies, including central excise duty, service tax and central sales tax as well as VAT on sale of goods and entry tax, to make movement of goods seamless across 1.3 billion market.