The GST Council is likely to discuss on Friday a reduction in the tax rate on Covid medicines, vaccines and medical equipment as well as means to make up for the shortfall in revenues promised to states. Ahead of the first meeting of the top decision-making body, finance ministers of eight states ruled by non-BJP and like-minded parties Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and West Bengal have devised a joint strategy to press for a zero tax rate on Covid essentials, sources said. The Council, which is headed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and includes representatives of all states and Union territories, is meeting for the first time in nearly eight months.
Punjab bats for separate band of SGST for States
May 27, 2021
Manpreet Singh Badal, Punjab Finance Minister×
Finance Ministers of Opposition-ruled States hold meeting
Finance Ministers of the States ruled by Opposition parties met informally through video conferencing on Wednesday to present a joint case at the meeting of the GST Council on Friday. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said he wants the GST council to discuss the possibility of creating a separate band of SGST to meet the large deficit. “Unless the GST Council meets very often, we will not be able to achieve a credible GST,” Badal said.
FMs of opposition-ruled States interact ahead of GST Council meet on Friday
May 27, 2021
Manpreet Singh Badal - The Hindu×
Need separate band of SGST to meet large deficit, says Punjab FM
Finance Ministers of Opposition-party ruled States interacted informally over video conferencing to present a joint case at the meeting of GST Council on Friday. Talking to reporters here today, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said he wants the GST council to discuss the possibility of creating a separate band of SGST to meet the large deficit. “Unless the GST Council meets very often, we will not be able to achieve a credible GST,” Badal said.
GST Council to meet today: Here is a list of things the Council will discuss
Photo: PTI
The GST Council is likely to discuss on Friday a reduction in the tax rate on COVID medicines, vaccines and medical equipment as well as means to make up for the shortfall in revenues promised to states.
Ahead of the first meeting of the top decision-making body, finance ministers of eight states ruled by non-BJP and like-minded parties Rajasthan, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and West Bengal have devised a joint strategy to press for a zero tax rate on Covid essentials, sources said.
GST Council agenda mundane, does not address issues: Punjab FM to Nirmala Sitharaman
Badal said in the letter dated May 24, In view of the prevailing position the country finds itself in today, we need to take some urgent measures on the pandemic front
Ashutosh Kumar | May 25, 2021 | Updated 17:41 IST
Punjab FM writes to FM Sitharaman ahead of GST Council meet
Ahead of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) Council meeting on May 28, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying that the agenda of the meeting is mundane and does not deal with any of the substantive issues that confront us .